It’s that time again. The bittersweet time of year when we send the kiddos back off to school. Time to check off the list of to do’s before we drop them off for the first day.
1) Back to school shopping. Timing is everything. Many states are now offering a tax free period for back to school purchases. Now we’re faced with a decision: is the seven cents per dollar that we’ll save worth the aggravation of fighting roving packs of angry mothers in search of the last twelve pack of #2 pencils? Maybe, maybe not.
2) School uniforms. If your school requires a uniform, you probably had to order months ago, before the child’s latest growth spurt. Will it fit or won’t it? Even if it fits now, how long until he does outgrow it? It’s always a moving target with the school uniforms.
3) Reprogramming. Most of us let the rules slip during the summer. Bedtime stretches from 8:30 to 9 to 9:45ish. With just weeks remaining before the start of a new school year, it’s time to start making the adjustment back to a reasonable bed time. This transition time is never popular with the kids, but getting a jump on it now is much better than waiting for the jarring adjustment when it really matters. The fighting and whining now will be well worth it when you’re actually able to get them up, dressed, and fed on time for the first day back.
4) End of Summer Cleaning. Now is a good time to clean the kids’ rooms and get rid of outgrown clothes, broken toys, and assorted unwanted items. Getting rid of the clutter will give the children a fresh start to a new year and may even help them to keep organized for the upcoming school projects.
With the clock ticking down to the end of summer vacation and the return to school, now is the time to get a jump on the preparations that will ensure a smooth transition.