“Back to school” is a time of year everyone either LOVES or dreads… or both!

There’s so much potential, everything is new, and our children are going back to a schedule and routine… the adjustment after the summer can be hard for many kids and adults. 

Now that a couple of weeks have passed from the first day of school, I actually think it’s the best time to assess and reassess what works for our family. As much as it’s nice to make plans in the summer for all the things we would do better this year… now that we got a couple of weeks of experience in the new routine, we can put it to the test! 

Here are things you can do to make your life just a bit easier: 

1. Mornings: 

Write down the ideal morning routine. Make sure you include some buffer time for the things that go wrong in the morning, like not finding one shoe… or realizing your kid grew overnight and needs a different pair of shoes…

Ideally, choose clothes the night before based on the next day’s weather and if they have PE the next day! … or even have your kids sleep in the clothes they will wear to school… This is a lifesaver for more sensory-sensitive kids. 

2. Lunch and snacks:

Make a list of all the foods and combinations that work for each kid for lunch and snacks. Each school has its own rules (e.g - no nuts…) and it’s helpful to have the list handy. You can try new foods at home, never in their lunchbox!! Remember that the lunch box goes through a lot before your kid actually opens it… so many foods can be squishy, crumbled, the wrong temperature etc. Keep it simple at school! Don’t let instagram trends fool you! While you’re at it, practice and make sure your kid can open all food containers and all food packaging on their own. Because while teachers might offer help, your kid might wait a while before they can get to them! So make sure you choose items that are right for your kid’s developmental stage, or repackage so they can be independent.

3. Routine after school

Your kids have just spent the WHOLE DAY listening to other grownups, following rules, and being on having no control over their time and activities. If your kid falls apart after school or gives you attitude… that’s because they need to regroup in their brain and process the day. This will be especially pronounced for kids who have a harder time listening and following rules, or that academics are harder for them. 

The best thing to do - is feed them, and give them space. Allow them to breathe and save the questions for later, there will be a time later in the day when they will be more open to share stories from their day. 

Your kids love and want to connect with you… but just like you don’t want someone asking you lots of questions as soon as your work day ended, so do they. 

4. Homework:

Homework is a sore topic for many kids and parents. It is one of those things that we can’t fully control, as the teachers assign it! It needs to get done, but we don’t always have the tools to help our children with it. 

What you CAN control is the environment and timing of homework. 

As much as we would all love for homework to be done as soon as they arrive from school, that might be frustrating for some kids… Based on your schedule and needs, see if you can afford to give them a meal, a break, and some free choice before you get into homework. 

A quiet and uncluttered spot would be best, and it can be anywhere in the house. ONE surface where they will be comfortable sitting down and doing their homework. You can make that spot more appealing and joyful, to give some extra encouragement for doing homework… and if possible, something to look forward to once they are done! 

5. Clothes, shoes, and recreational activity gear 

The weather is changing soon! This is also the time to check if their clothes for the Fall still fit and figure out what you need to buy. You do not want to be caught unprepared on the first rainy day… or when their school uniform is two sizes too small!

This is also the time of year that all the after-school activities gear up, so find out what they need and order it now. 

6. Life skills and independence

For younger kids, practice life skills when it’s not a rushed moment. When your kid wants to tie their shoes or put on their coat in their own, that’s wonderful! But not when you’re late for work and school. Find time to practice those skills now, so when you have that morning rush, you have fewer hiccups in the morning!

Wishing you a wonderful school year, full of joyful moments and growth. 

Remember that help is out there for any home-life challenges you may face. Find a parent mentor, executive functioning coach, a babysitter/ mother’s helper, cleaning and organizing professionals, etc. While it is an investment, making your life less chaotic and more fulfilling is worthwhile. 

You got this!