Your Back to School Checklist

Back-to-school, these are words that kids often dread, and moms often love. Or, at least they love the idea of having their kids back on a regular schedule, learning, and out of their hair for a few hours each day. However, back-to-school can be stressful for moms too, as there is a lot to do to be ready to go back to school. The following is a checklist.

Register your child. This is important to do early as the school may change their registration policies, your child might need a physical, immunizations, etc. So, find out what your school’s requirements are, and get that done first and foremost.

School supply shopping. Kids have to have paper, folders, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, etc. for school, and sometimes they even need things like graphing calculators. So, get the list of the supplies required, and shop early so you can get sales through the year, stock up on things you will need all year round, and have what you need when your kids need it.

School clothes shopping. If your child’s school requires uniform or has a dress code you have to make sure you meet it. So, start by cleaning out clothes that do not fit or are stained, and then pay attention to what gaps need to be filled. If your child has plenty of shirts, but is lacking in pants, then don’t buy a bunch of shirts for them. Write down what they need so you get it, and so you don’t buy stuff they do not need.

Get your child in a routine. The hardest part of back to school for most families is the getting up, ready, and out the door with all the stuff you need each day. So, start early by getting your child on a schedule, by making sure they are in bed by their strict bedtime, and by helping them learn ways to speed up the process in the morning, such as laying out clothes the night before, packing backpack as soon as you are done with your homework the day before, and preparing your lunch before going to bed.

Other stuff your child will need:
Your child will need a safe backpack. You want to find one that is the right size for the size of their body. While it might be cute to see your kindergartener with a full size back pack on, it is not healthy for their backs. You will also want to get them a water bottle that is reusable, and a lunch box that is insulated.

You also need to ensure your child has the right footwear for gym or dance classes, as well as any uniform or standard issue clothing required.

Last, but not least, if your child will be riding a bike to school, make sure they have a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and a bike lock. This will keep them safe to and from, and protect their bike from theft.