Mom Hacks: Back-to-School Tips From Kindergarten to High School
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Is it just us, or is school starting even earlier every year?
Maybe you’re still washing summer camp laundry or swimsuits after pool time, and thoughts of the new school year are far from your mind. (Or sniffling your way through baby books, baffled you’re about to send your baby off to kindergarten?!) No matter how long you’ve prepped for the first day of school, there might be things you missed! From our CityMoms community: All the best back-to-school tips from kindergarten through high school.
Here are our CityMoms’ top back-to-school tips:
General Back-to-School Tips:
Get your student a good, supportive backpack. Many schools limit coatroom or locker visits, so kids may carry all their supplies with them most of the day. Make sure you’re getting a backpack up to the task with wide, reinforced straps, ready to carry the load. We have a great list of backpack brands you can check out here.
Pick up school supplies early. Some schools have their supply lists on the website, or if they haven’t been sent out, simply ask for a copy. Consider that virtually all families are headed back around the same time, and supplies sell out, so plan ahead! (Tip: Krazy Coupon Lady is a great source for BTS sales!)
Download any apps their school uses to track classroom activity, grades, and assignments. Check them once a week to make sure you’re not missing important documents like field trip permission slips, teacher communications, or other school announcements. Block off time to reset school apps and complete the necessary documents, all before the first day.
Don’t stress if you don’t have time to volunteer. That’s ok if your schedule is packed - you can still help out teachers by asking what supplies they need throughout the year (then keeping an eye out for sales!) or offering to do behind-the-scenes support like sending out signup forms for class parties or prepping for crafts if you have younger kids.
Buy those back-to-school photo signs now. You know the cute chalkboard ones with spaces for the teacher's name, favorite hobbies, etc? They’re a hot priority at BTS time, so stock up now to avoid scrounging. (We love this one.)
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Back-to-School Tips for Kindergarten:
Kindergarten is an adjustment. And these first-timers are worn out by the end of their first week of school. CityMoms reco not planning anything out of the ordinary for their first Friday (or even first few Fridays?) of the school year. And just let them rest. This is good for you, too, mama.
Don’t prolong the goodbye for your kindergartener. Trust their teachers will know just how to calm them if needed (and it’s ok if you need a few minutes to cry in your car; we’ve all been there).
Know it’s perfectly normal for your kiddo to melt down when they get home. Have a plan to help them decompress at the end of the day. (We have a list of mindfulness quotes you can have on hand to help the calm).
Label everything. Stuff goes missing; items get lost. Cut down on misplaced items by labeling them. (Pro tip: Use an initial for your last name - at some point, your kiddo is bound to encounter someone with the same first name, and this will help keep them apart.)
Back-to-School Tips for Elementary School
Create and stick to an after-school evening routine so everyone knows what is expected of them. Don’t have too much on the schedule at first.
Teach personal responsibility from the start. Let them take charge of cleaning and stowing lunch boxes, packing backpacks, and putting away shoes and jackets at the end of the day. Sure, they may need some reminders at first, but hold them accountable so this becomes routine for the rest of the year.
CityMom Amanda LOVES her Skylight calendar for its easy organization that provides accountability and rewards to her kids. Just a one time setup and the kids can use it to stay on track!
Expect illness. These younger kiddos will pick up germs from school. Get into the habit of washing hands as soon as they walk in the door and/or pack sanitizer in their backpacks. Hot tip: No family can escape sickness, so plan ahead! Talk with your employer (if applicable) about how to best flex your schedule or use sick time for when those sick days occur. You don’t want to have that burden at the same time you’re managing sickness. Plan ahead!
Create an easy way to check in on their day.
CityMom J recommends doing “Roses and Thorns:” What went well (rose), what didn’t (thorn)? She said, “We always make sure there are more roses than thorns to keep it positive!”
Hold off asking questions about their day when you first see them. Greet them warmly, and just let them know you are happy to see them. Too many questions may feel overwhelming at the tail end of a long day. (This is mostly speaking to myself because I have allll the questions when I see them and have found I get better answers if I wait!)
Back-to-School Tips for Middle School and High School
Let them have control over their schedules. Outside of the core classes every student needs, give them the freedom to try different classes to find where they spark joy. That’s the beauty of elective classes. It let’s them try new things!
Email the guidance counselor and introduce yourself. Making sure the people helping your student navigate school know you and know how to contact you is a great way to keep valuable communication lines open.
Meet their friends! Let their friends know you are a safe space and another person in their lives who cares about them. Offer rides and ask questions to show interest in their lives.
Make time for one-on-one after-school dates when possible. You’ll be amazed at how much you learn about their school experience over ice cream or french fries.
If their school requires uniforms, order early. Hot tip: Many schools offer used uniform sales or will have pieces for trade in a parent Facebook group.
Use time in the car (like when driving to school) to stay curious and listen. Sometimes kids need to talk without receiving advice or judgment.
