Back To School – Ready or Not Here it Comes

Well, it’s
that time of year again. Summer is coming to a close and it’s time to
get back to school. There’s a lot to do before the summer
is over starting with school shopping. But there are also a few days of summer
left to be enjoyed before you get back into the busy school year routine. Here
are some tips for enjoying these last days of summer while still getting prepared
to start the school year.

• Make
  the weekend prior to this “get into routine week” a fun time.
  It should be the “last hurrah” of summer. (Don’t wait until
  the weekend before school starts for this because it creates chaos.) You can
  have a summer party, plan a big weekend at the beach or just BBQ with the
  family instead of eating indoors.
• Use downtime
  at home to get the kids re-adjusted to doing some quiet activities.
  But make them fun! Decorating backpacks and notebooks for the new school year,
  creating crafts that are related to the return to school and otherwise doing
  projects that help the kids wind down but simultaneously get excited about
  school will help with the back to school transition.
• Get the
  school shopping done early. You probably already have a back to school
  shopping routine but decide if it’s really right for you. If you pick
  out everything for your kids, there’s no need to take them along for
  the trip so send them to the sitter and get it all done in one shot. Or, if
  you do let them pick out their back to school stuff (or need them to try on
  clothes), set aside a whole day for it and make it a special trip that you
  enjoy together. Get ice cream or some other treat during the process to break
  it up and make it more enjoyable.
• Have
  the kids tell you all of the things that are excited about for back to school.
  Kids often think of going back to school as a sad time because it means summer
  ending. Have them think of it in terms of a beginning instead.
• Set aside
  the first weekend after school starts as quiet time at the house.
  The first week is going to be hectic for everyone and you should just wind
  down together when it’s done. Don’t plan activities, don’t
  do work at home and don’t let the kids have their friends over. There
  will be plenty of time for all that as the school year continues!

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