Well, we survived! The first week of school is in the books and my family did swimmingly well…I’m happy to report that not only did I get all of my kids to their respective schools on time each day, but there wasn’t a single backpack, lunchbox, or pair of shoes left behind. I’m actually looking forward to next week!
That being said, surviving the first week back to school didn’t happen by accident; it was very much by design. Knowing just how difficult the first week can be, I planned and planned and planned so our first week back to school would be a success, and it paid off. Here are just a few of the ways that we survived the first week of school, and how you can too.
Stick to Bedtimes – Once school starts, pick a bedtime for your child and stick with it even if it means skipping story time or their favorite show. I know that probably sounds harsh, but I can’t stress enough how critical this was in our house. Thanks to strict bedtimes, my kids were going to be earlier and waking up earlier on their own. In fact, I only had to wake them up 1 day out of the entire week, they woke up before me the other days.
Easy Meals – The first week of school isn’t a time to try that new recipe with 45 ingredients and 19 “easy” steps. Keep your menu simple and filled with recipes that can be made in minutes, not hours. Each of my meals this week was ready in 30 minutes or less and were already favorites in our house (baked chicken, Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, and flat bread pizza, just to name a few).
Make the Most of “The Night Before” – Do as much as you can each night to prepare for the next morning. Prepare lunches, set out outfits, plan snacks and drinks, lay out hair accessories…anything and everything you’ll need for the next day. Admittedly, I’m terrible about this as the school year wears on, but during the chaotic first week, I really set my mind to it and found immediate results when it came to getting out the door faster in the morning.
Simplify Your Family’s Schedule – Adjusting to the school routine can be hard for kids (especially little ones), so for the first week, focus on school. Try moving all late afternoon and early evening lessons, classes, practices, and family get togethers to the weekend. Taking part in these events will often throw you off schedule for the day, pushing back bedtimes and allowing you little time to prepare the night before the next morning.
Plan an End of the Week Celebration – Moving to a new school or grade is a big deal and it should be celebrated! Plan an end of the week celebration with your family – dinner at a favorite restaurant, a movie night in, or an ice cream party. This gives everyone something to look forward to, but also keeps the week nights free to focus on getting ready for the next day.
And remember if you have a child headed back to school this fall, whether it be college or kindergarten, Follett is there to help! As a leading provider of education technology, services, and print and digital content, Follett has launched their #FallBackToSchool aiming to help all kids seamlessly transition back to school.
So, how did you survive the first week back to school? Please share your tips by leaving a comment!
