It’s that time of year again! The time when kids groan when the word is even mentioned. School! Every kid is dreading it. In just a few short weeks you’ll have to get back into the rhythm of waking up early to catch the bus, coming home with what seems like boat loads of school work. I should know, I’m dreading it too, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make it any easier to get used to.
The trick to going back to school is — about two weeks before school starts — going to bed earlier and earlier until you are at the time you would normally go to bed during the school year. This also means you have to start slowly waking up a little bit earlier each day until you are at the time you would normally wake up at during the school year. Try to be at those times a couple of days before school starts so on the first day of school you are completely ready.
Another tip is organizing a schedule with your siblings; who showers first, who eats first, and so on. Once you have it all figured out, start trying to acclimate to it. The sooner you start doing this the sooner you will be ready for school. I know that most children and teenagers won’t want to start their school schedule so soon but believe me, it will make their first few weeks so much easier. Also, always add in about 10-15 minutes of lag time for your kids. During the first week or so they will have extra time, but as the school year moves on they will start moving slower and will be needing those couple of extra minutes.
As for back to school shopping, always buy an extra notebook or binder because you never know when you will be needing it. Most school give the kids a list of thing that they will need during the school year so for that you will be fine, but clothes are a little trickier. I always wait about a month or so before I buy my clothes for the fall/winter season, because during August and part of September most kids can still wear their summer clothes or last year’s spring clothing. Also, if you wait till around mid September all the fall stuff will be on sale at most stores because they will already have their winter clothes out.
Believe me, if you go by these rules you won’t have to worry about all the back-to-school hecticness.
(Note to readers: Check back later this week for a parent’s view on back-to-school.)