Final Back-to-School Checks

Whether their summer was jam-packed with activities or filled with complaints about being bored with nothing to do, kids often have a tough time making the back-toschool transition.

As with any new or potentially unsettling situation – like starting school for the first time or entering a new grade or new school – allow kids time to adjust. Remind them that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school and that it will all become an everyday routine in no time.

Consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If possible, it’s especially beneficial for parents to be home at the end of the school day for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don’t have that flexibility. Instead, try to arrange your evenings so you can give kids as much time as they need, especially during those first few days.

To help ease back-to-school butterflies, try to transition kids into a consistent schoolnight routine before school starts. Also make sure that they:

Get enough sleep (establish a reasonable bedtime so that they’ll be wellrested and ready to learn in the morning)

Eat a healthy breakfast (they’re more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day)

Write down the need-to-know info to help them remember details such as their school locker combination, what time classes and lunch start and end, their homeroom and classroom numbers, teachers’ and school-bus drivers’ names, etc.

Use a wall calendar or personal planner to record when assignments are due, tests will be given, extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held, etc.

Have them organize and set out what they need the night before (books should be put in their backpacks by the door and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms).

Although it’s normal to be anxious in any new situation, a few kids develop real physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, associated with the start of school. If you’re concerned that your child’s worries go beyond the normal back-toschool jitters, speak with your child’s doctor, teacher, or school counselor.

Parents themselves can be a little nervous about the first day of school, especially if they’re seeing their little one off for the first time or if their child will be attending a new school.

To help make going to school a little easier on everyone, here’s a handy checklist:

Does the school have a dress code? Are there certain things students can’t wear?

Will kids need a change of clothes for PE or art class?

Do your kids have a safe backpack that’s lightweight, with two wide, padded shoulder straps, a waist belt, a padded back, and multiple compartments?

Do kids know not to overload their backpacks and to stow them safely at home and school?

Will your kids buy lunch at school or bring it from home? If they buy a school lunch, how much will it cost per day or per week? Do you have a weekly or monthly menu of what will be served?

Have you stocked up on all of the necessary school supplies? (Letting kids pick out a new lunchbox and a set of pens, pencils, binders, etc., helps get them geared up for going back to school.)

MEDICAL ISSUES:

Have your kids received all necessary immunizations?

Have you filled out any forms that the school has sent home, such as emergency contact and health information forms?

Do the school nurse and teachers know about any medical conditions your child may have, particularly food allergies, asthma, diabetes, and any other conditions that may need to be managed during the school day?

Have you made arrangements with the school nurse to administer any medications your child might need?

Do the teachers know about any conditions that may affect how your child learns? For example, kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder should be seated in the front of the room, and a child with vision problems should sit near the board.

TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY:

Do you know what time school starts and how your kids will get there?

If they’re riding the bus, do you know where the bus stop is and what time they’ll be picked up and dropped off?

Do you know where the school’s designated drop-off and pick-up area is?

Are there any regulations on bicycles or other vehicles, such as scooters?

Have you gone over traffic safety information, stressing the importance of crossing at the crosswalk (never between parked cars or in front of the school bus), waiting for the bus to stop before approaching it, and understanding traffic signals and signs?

If your child walks or bikes to school, have you mapped out a safe route? Does your child understand that it’s never okay to accept rides, candy, or any other type of invitation from strangers?

Most of all, whether it’s the first day of school or the last, make sure your kids know you’re there to listen to their feelings and concerns, and that you don’t expect perfection – only that they try their best.