Start Preparing to Send the Kids Back to School | Sandi Parkey, Pink Zebra Consultant

As the summer starts winding down, we all have back to school on the brain. From purchasing new clothes to buying a slew of classroom supplies, the first day of classes is quickly approaching.

If you get stressed by the thought of prepping for a new school year, you aren’t alone! The summer fun tends to fly by too fast and before you know it, you’re shopping for binders and gel pens.

With these simple tips, you can ease yourself and your family into the chaos that may come with a new school year!

Ease Into a Routine

So, your kids have been making their own schedules and any semblance of a routine has gone out of the window. For a relaxing summer, this works fine! For kids adjusting back to a normal school day, it doesn’t work as well.

Start by easing into a more manageable school-year routine. For example, begin moving bedtime up little by little, and having your kids wake up earlier. Don’t try this cold turkey—it’ll make for grumpy kids and an even grumpier mom.

Make small adjustments, over time, until bedtime and wake up time are closer to a typical school day routine.

Make a List (or 2…or 3)

Don’t let the five boxes of tissue paper, 14 three-ring binders and gallon of hand sanitizer you have to buy before school starts overwhelm you. Instead, create an organized list of everything your child needs on the first day.

List classroom supplies, new clothing needed (because we all know last year’s clothes won’t fit!) and everything you can think of. If you prefer to buy at different shops, you can even list everything per store for more organization. With multiple kids, create separate lists.

Does your child need a haircut? List that, too! It also may be a good idea to list any end-of-summer activities you want to do as a family, before the seasons change.

Have a Conversation

Kids can feel overwhelmed by sudden change, so instead of just putting them to bed early one night and expecting them to wake up pumped for school the next morning, talk to them about it. Start the conversation when you’re buying all of the back-to-school items, and you can even include them in the process.

Let your kids know about everything that’s going on, from after-school programs to their new teacher’s name. Give them time to prepare themselves for the new season ahead.

How are you feeling about the summer coming to an end? The back-to-school season can be a stressful time, but it doesn’t have to be! Fall is a beautiful season and has many opportunities for family fun, too.

The back-to-school season means fall is quickly approaching! To ease back into the cooler weather, check out the Pink Zebra products for fall scents and warming fragrances.