Back to School

The Final Countdown...
Don’t let that first day of school catch you unprepared

by Kelly Konrad

It may seem as if school bells and sweater weather are still a long way to go. And in the midst of beach balls and barbecue, the last thing anyone is thinking of is a round of flash cards. Dang, wasn’t that Alice Cooper I just heard on the radio the other day? It can’t possibly be that time of year already.

Here’s a few ideas to ease the transition back to school:

Two - three weeks to go: Haven’t completed that residency requirement yet? This needs to be handled immediately, as some schools won’t put your child on a class list until residency is verified.

Also, be sure to check with your school if a complete physical is required, such as for sports participation. If your child needs a new one, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician immediately.

Does your child have a summer packet? A required reading list? Don’t wait until next weekend to squeeze in Pride and Prejudice. Try to finish several chapters or two math worksheets a day.

Regardless of assigned summer work, it’s always a good idea to start turning brains back on. A round of flash cards at the dinner table. A written paragraph of favorite summer memories. The daily Sudoku game in the newspaper. Anything to knock that noggin back into thinking mode.

One to two weeks out: It’s time to buy the school supplies. Check your child’s backpack and lunch box. Do they need to be replaced? Are there any pens or pencils floating around that can be reused? Then, check the newspaper for school supply sales and head to the store. Staples.com has great school supply suggestions and tips for kids of all ages. Don’t stress if you can’t find exactly the right color or style of pocket folder – your child’s teacher isn’t grading you.

The most important item? A daily planner. Organization is key and planners of any kind really help the student. They also offer a kids a sense of personal responsibility for their assignments and their work, which is crucial as kids get older.

With two weeks to go, start working on getting the kids back into a routine. Maybe 15 minutes in the late afternoon reading or playing a math game. Gradually working back bed times and easing into early-morning rising.

One week out: Haircuts? New jeans? Uniform items that need to be replaced? Have your kids try on those few clothing must-haves, especially if your child wears a uniform. Now’s the time to shop for it – you don’t really want to spend Labor Day weekend scouring the mall for a pair of navy pants, do you?

How does the pantry look? Make sure you stock up on staples like plastic spoons for the applesauce and brown paper bags – these are always good to have on hand when someone forgets their lunch box at school or has a field trip.

The Day Before: After you’ve unpacked the car from that last weekend escape, do a quick load of laundry if you must – you want to make sure Junior’s favorite pair of shorts are clean for the first day of school. And make sure everything’s packed and ready to go by the front door - you don’t want to have a early morning Mom freak out on the first day.