With some preparation and organization, you can make the beginning of school a great success! Whether your child is going back to the same school to a higher grade level, starting kindergarten or starting a new school, here are a few suggestions to make sure you have a super school year!
1. Have a homework area and routines
Have a specific spot where your child will work on their homework. If you have a specific spot, there are no questions asked about it! You know your child and you’ll know if they are better at getting homework done right after school and getting it out of the way to clear the rest of the day or if they need time to wind down after a tough day at school. Try different ways, but when you find the way that works, I suggest to be consistent!
2. Practice your new routines.
Practice your new routines. Be specific on where backpacks should be, will you have backpacks packed up at night before bed, what each child will bring out with them to the bus or car, will they get their own cereal. Change it around until it works the best and memorize it. Having good routines will make your life easier and help your child have a great school year!
3. Help your child bond with their teacher.

Get your child excited about his/her teacher. Speak fondly of him/her and share anything you know about the teacher. Have your child bring the teacher a card, plant, etc. if they feel that they’d like to do that.
4. Help your child bond with the other kids.
Kids are usually nervous about their new teacher, but if they know any of the other kids, they’ll feel arrange a playdate so she’ll feel more connected if she hasn’t seen these kids all summer.
5. Getting to bed early – establish a good bedtime.
Most kids begin staying up late in the summer months. But kids need 9 1/2 to 11 hours of sleep a night, depending on their age. (Teens need a minimum of 9.5; toddlers usually do best with 11). Getting them back on schedule so they’re sound asleep by 9 pm to be up at 7 am for school takes a couple of weeks of gradually moving the bedtime earlier. If you have them in bed at 8 and let them read for an hour, they’ll be asleep by 9.
6. Bedtime is a time for extra reading
I had to throw in the importance of reading so I would suggest besides the allotted time you have your child to read every day, let them read for a while before they sleep. Having a cool light to read with will make the reading even more fun!!
7. Get a good breakfast!
Having a full stomach will have your child off to a good start. If they’re hungry, it’s harder for them to concentrate on their days’ events. Eating sugared cereal in the morning could make them fidgety. If your child has a nutritious breakfast it will make them more prepared to learn and have a great school year. There are some great recipes for nutritious breakfast bars, but even peanut butter toast or a boiled egg in the morning is a nutritious breakfast.
8. Throw in some learning skills and fun!
Even if it’s for 10 minutes a day in the car on the way home, depending on your child’s age, ask questions, play games, start a silly story and take turns adding a sentence to the story, quiz part of the multiplication table, etc. etc.
9. Guidelines for Technology
Have strict guidelines on games and technology unless it’s connected to learning. Children (and some adults) get glued to their screens!
10. Be organized
Create a huge calendar, whiteboard, blackboard, etc., to schedule appointments, practices, after-school activities, etc.
And check out more ideas to help your child through their school year:
- How to Help Your Child Get Ready to Read!
- How to Boost Your Child’s Memory
- Reading Motivation Activities
- Back to School Goals for Kids
- Memory Techniques to Help Your Child Remember Information
- How to Help Your Struggling Reader at Home
- 10 Tips to Improve Your Child’s Reading Comprehension
- Qualities of a Good Preschool
- Kindergarten Readiness Ideas From an Expert
- Super Fun Ideas For Reading Practice
- Is Your Child a Struggling Reader?
- Help Your Child Get Ready For Kindergarten
- Books for Boys Who Hate to Read and Tips to Get Them Reading Today!
- How to Help Your Child Get Ready to Read!
The beginning of school is c-r-a-z-y, but if you make up routines that work, those crazy mornings and late afternoons will go much easier than you thought possible! You need to try every trick in the book to make sure you have a great school year! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please leave a message below or email me at jean@reading-love.com.
Wow, those are great suggestions for anyone with kids, and I appreciate you taking the time since my daughter is recently back to school, I realize the social interaction is so very important at her age, and time spent with her is so much more valuable than being used on technology.
Our time is so rushed with our children, it’s hard to remember everything that you need to take care of in a day! I’m glad you enjoyed my back to school post!