10 back-to-school tips a former teacher wants everyone to know

Establish at-home routines for a strong return to school — Photo courtesy of bluecinema / E+

After a summer of flexible bedtimes and slow mornings in pajamas, returning to a school schedule can be challenging even for the most organized families. As a parent and a former teacher, I know that stable, orderly patterns are essential to classroom management. They provide children with a clear roadmap to what’s coming next, which offers a sense of security and well-being.

Establishing routines at home with your kids can have the same effect. Here are 10 simple daily practices for a smooth transition back to the classroom.

Do a dress rehearsal

Doing a dress rehearsal (or two) before the first day of school gives kids the chance to become familiar with the morning schedule. Set the alarm and do a dry run of the entire morning routine several days before school begins.

My kids always ate a packed lunch at home for a few days before the start of school to get them used to eating sandwiches again after a summer of more elaborate midday meals.

Assign mealtime roles

Your family’s dining table is a good place to encourage autonomy, something that teachers expect of even very young children. Let your child participate at mealtimes in an age-appropriate manner. Folding napkins, setting the table, serving themselves, and assisting with clean-up are tasks that foster independence and prepare kids for the self-reliance that school staff count on.

Prepare backpacks the night before

Following these back-to-school tips will ensure a lighter load for everyone — Photo courtesy of Paperkites / iStock Via Getty Images Plus

Advance preparation is essential to hassle-free mornings. Helping your children get their backpacks ready the night before with the books and supplies they’ll need the next day is a big timesaver. At the end of the week, go through the packs with your children and remove unnecessary items to lighten the load.

Prepare lunch the night before

Packing a school lunch that is nutritionally balanced and tasty takes time and effort; prepare it the night before and you’ll save precious time in the morning. If your children have a stake in lunch prep, they are more likely to eat what’s inside their lunchboxes.

Vote Now: Best Grocery Store Prepared Food (10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024)

Measuring, weighing, and portioning build foundational math skills, so encourage involvement. I tried to make it fun by letting my kids use large cookie-cutters to cut out bread hearts and triangles for whimsically shaped sandwiches.

Keep use of electronics to a minimum at night

Turn off electronics at least one hour before bedtime. Computer monitors, smartphones, LED TVs, and tablet screens are artificial sources of blue light. When used at night, these digital screens trick the brain into thinking it’s daytime, affecting the body’s sleep cycle by slowing down the natural production of melatonin, a hormone that helps prepare the body for rest and relaxation.

In my family, we had a “no screens in the bedroom” rule, something I encouraged my students to follow as well.

Establish a consistent bedtime routine

Live happily ever after with a steady bedtime routine — Photo courtesy of SolStock / E+

A consistent bedtime routine is key to establishing healthy sleep habits. During my teaching career, I met hundreds of exasperated parents who struggled with getting their children to bed. My advice is to initiate a uniform nighttime routine. Children are reassured when they know what’s coming next; habitual patterns can help to calm separation anxiety that often strikes at night.

Vote Now: Best Grocery Store (10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024)

Our evening ritual started with a bath and brushing teeth, followed by reading a story, singing a song, and a goodnight kiss. I kept it simple, soothing, and steady. Establish a reasonable bedtime as soon as possible. Give your child’s body clock time to adjust to the school year schedule before the alarm clock rings on the first day.

Don’t skip breakfast

Study after study shows that eating a nourishing breakfast helps kids concentrate on the tasks that are expected of them during the school day. Consider foods that are healthy, easy-to-handle, and quick to prepare. Nontraditional breakfast food, including English muffin pizza, hummus with veggie sticks, and turkey sandwiches are balanced meals that needn’t be overlooked.

Easy dressing never goes out of style

Belts, laces, and cords can be difficult for children to handle and may prove frustrating. Opt for clothing that’s easy to put on, such as shoes with Velcro fasteners and pants with elastic waistbands. For efficiency, select the outfit the night before.

Exercise for the win

Walk into a new school year with these back-to-school tips — Photo courtesy of ProfessionalStudioImages / iStock Via Getty Images

Exercise can bust stress in the young and old alike. An afternoon dance party in the living room, a game of tag in the yard, or an early evening walk will get the endorphins flowing and help the entire family decompress after a long day. This sets the stage for a restful night.

Find time to listen to your kids

Anxiety doesn’t discriminate. Even very young children may experience apprehension as they ease into the school year. I always tried to carve out time to listen to what went on during my kids’ school day. Giving them the space to reflect was an elixir.

When my kids were struggling with something, we would write it down on a piece of paper and place it in a small box we called the Worry Box. It didn’t erase the problem, but it did help validate their feelings and demonstrate that the adults in their lives took their problems seriously.