A Back-to-School Checklist for Parents

Summer is drawing to a close, which means it’s time to get your family ready for the new school year!

Getting started on the back-to-school prep early will help ease the transition for the entire family, get the kids excited for what’s to come, and help to keep everyone’s stress levels low.

“Going back to school can be met with a lot of mixed emotions for kids, and their parents. With so many things to do it can get a little stressful and overwhelming,” says Hany Nashed MD, PIH Health pediatrician in Whittier. “Taking advantage of this time to prepare in advance can go a long way in having happier and more well-adjusted kids—and even more relaxed parents—when it’s time to get going on that first day back.”

Here's our back-to-school checklist of the eight things you need to do before school officially starts to ease the transition for both parents and kids to make the school year run smoother:

1. Schedule all appointments. Check-ups, eye exams, dental cleanings, sports physicals, and even haircuts—now is the time to get all those appointments on your calendar.
2. Sign up for fall activities. Discuss what sports, after-school activities and programs your child is interested in, and make sure you sign up on time.
3. Solidify plans for before and after-school care. Make sure arrangements are made if you need before- or after-school care or need to set up rides to kids’ activities or help with homework while you’re at work.
4. Fill in your calendar. With so many things going on at the beginning of the school year, it can be easy to forget things, so keeping an up-to-date calendar is going to be a major help. Put all dates and details into your calendar as information arrives from school, teams and organizations associated with your child’s activities so nothing gets missed.
5. Go back-to-school shopping. Make a list of what each child needs, from clothing and shoes to backpacks and school supplies. Don’t forget to check whether you need to buy uniforms or equipment for sports teams or activities.
6. Transition to school routines. Start easing into bedtimes, wake times and mealtimes that will need to be followed throughout the school year. This will make it easier to get everyone up and ready when school actually begins.
7. Do some meal planning. Plan for how everyone will eat when schedules get busy. Discuss healthy meal options for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks with kids.
8. Talk about school with kids. Spend some time talking with kids about how they feel about going back to school. They can have mixed emotions, and may be excited or nervous. Ask them what you can do to help ease their transition? These open discussions can help kids feel more supported and better prepare them for when school begins.

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