5 Tips to Get Your Child Ready for Back to School

Back to school season can be stressful for both children and parents. Whether your child is going to school for the first time or is a returning student, there is much to be done to prepare for the school year ahead. As summer draws to a close, many children begin to feel nervous about the upcoming school year. Take off the pressure and anxiety of the first day with these back to school tips.

1.    Visit the school or classroom before the first day

Many teachers and school systems offer tours or open houses before the start of the school year, in order to help welcome students and parents. This is very common for schools that are returning to in-person classes versus remote learning. Attending these events allows your child to feel more comfortable, as the school will no longer be an unfamiliar place come the first day of school. This will also offer you a great opportunity to interact with your child’s teacher and bring up any questions or concerns. If your child’s school does not announce an event like this, you could always try to email the principal, teacher, or just take a visit to look at the outside of the building.

2.    Read stories about starting school

Reading stories to your child about starting school is one of the best back to school tips for helping with stress. While reading to your child helps their comprehension skills, it can also help to prepare them for the upcoming year. Children’s stories about starting school offer your child an empathetic viewpoint that allows your child to have their fears understood. Reading these stories could help them to feel comfortable asking more questions about school, as well as help to eliminate their anxiety surrounding starting the new school year. If your child is old enough that they won’t really resonate with a story, you can always have discussions with them about starting school regularly.

3.    Practice the new school schedule

A change in a child’s routine can be one of the biggest reasons they experience stress and anxiety at the start of the school year. Getting used to a new schedule can take some time. Doing a run down of your child’s new schedule every few days or so can help them become acclimated by the time school actually starts. This might include making a mock trip to the school in the morning, going to bed at an earlier time, or getting started early in after school daycare. Ask your child if they have any concerns about their new school schedule. This way, you will be able to directly address any fears they might have.

4.    Start budgeting and shopping for back to school outfits

Back to school outfits are an aspect of going back to school that many parents overlook. However, your child will likely need a wardrobe refresh before the start of the school year. The good news is that if you start planning early, you can likely save some cash. Hit up your local thrift stores, resale shops, and garage sales. If you have run into a snag with funds, you might want to consider same day loans. Short term loans from Spotloan can help to get you the cash you need quickly after only a simple application process.

5.    Plan out your child’s lunches

Usually, during the summer or at the very start of the school year you will receive a calendar from your child’s school. This will have the dates of holidays or when your child will have off, as well as important events. Sometimes, these calendars will also have what the lunches will be. This can help you to plan out what your child is going to eat for the school year, especially if they have certain dietary restrictions. Finding back to school kids snacks is not always the easiest task, but planning out your child’s lunches can help you budget more accordingly.

Back to school season can be stressful and overwhelming. But, it doesn’t have to be! Utilize the back to school tips in this article to help ensure you and your child have a stress free experience. Prepare accordingly, budget appropriately, and give your child the tools they need to succeed to help replace their fear and anxiety with excitement and an eagerness to learn.

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