Back to School Checklist
Image Source: Krissy Venosdale via Flickr
The school year crept up on all of us. Even if we’re not quite ready, we can be prepared to send the little ones off to school if we’re organized. Here’s a back to school checklist to help you get ready for the big day.
Finish Official Business
- Confirm class schedules and calendar
- Update your child’s immunization records
- Update contact information with the school and any other outstanding documents to avoid hold-ups on the first day of school
- Inform the school of any health issues or medications
- Obtain dress code requirements
- Obtain a class supplies list
- Look at the lunch menu provided by the school and decide if it makes sense to participate in the lunch program or to send a sack lunch with your child
Image source: Melissa via Flickr
Arrange Transportation
- Walking and bicycling – make sure your child is familiar with a safe route
- Carpooling – confirm schedule with other parents
- Bus – confirm pick up and drop off times and locations
After School Activities
- Make sure your child knows where to go as soon as school lets out
- Have play dates, after school sports or clubs confirmed
- If your child goes straight home, make sure your child knows how to get into your house (i.e., where keys are kept how to use the key)
- Make sure your child knows where to go in case of an emergency and have safety contacts established
- Go over your phone numbers, address and how to get ahold of you during the day
Image Source: Larry Darling via Flickr
Establish School Night Rules
- Set rules on time spent in front of the TV or playing video games
- Determine a chore and homework plan
- Create a homework space
- Confirm bed times and wake-up times
- Go over school morning routines
Prepare for Learning
- Have your child review last year’s basic skills
- Select a book to read to warm up their brains for the school year or do a few word and number puzzles to ease their minds into doing work
The first day of school is going to be stressful no matter what, but you can reduce the stress with a little bit of preparation and organization.
