Back-To-School Checklist

Whew!  Rosie starts kindergarten in 14 days *shudder*.  To say that I’m not ready, is a major understatement.  Have you seen the back-to-school checklists that say, “Three months before…” “1 month before…” “1 week before…”  Well, standard procedure for me – it’s two weeks before and I’m too late for two-thirds of that bleepy list!  Yes, I’m in denial that my baby is leaving me.

So, here’s MY list, that is hey-just-whenever-you-have-time and it might just be the night before!

Shopping

Tip:  Take inventory before you go shopping and see what you already have, or may be able to re-purpose.  Make a list, and shop from the list!  If you start picking up this and that, your budget will explode!

1.  Backpack

Make sure it’s the appropriate size for your child

2.  Lunch Box

Rosie is going to be buying her lunch but we still need a lunch box because at her school the kindergartners bring their own morning and afternoon snacks

3.  Water Bottle

4.  School Shoes

5.  Rain Gear:  Coat, Boots, Umbrellas

6.  School Supplies

School list AND for at home

7.  School Clothes

Rosie’s school has uniforms and I’ve already ordered the shirts.  But the bottoms can be jeans, khaki, or navy.  I need to inventory what she already has and then we need to go shopping.  Even if your child doesn’t wear a uniform to school, you may want to consider a simple color palette with solid colors.  If you can convince your child, it does make dressing much easier!

Things to Do

Tip:  Plan for Mom’s First Day, too!  For the send-off, if you are emotional like I am…. two words for you… tissues and waterproof mascara.  Well, that’s more than two words, but you know what I mean.

1.  Set up a homework station.

Where will your child do their homework?  Rosie is so excited about homework, as only a kindergartner will be!  She told me today that she has practiced and practiced and “MOM, I’m ready for THE REAL THING.”  Even if you are choosing the universal solution of “the kitchen table”, establish a place for your child to keep their supplies, books, backpack, assignments, etc.”

2.  Set up a launching pad just inside the door you use in the morning.

This is one of my all-time favorite tips.  Right next to our back door, we have hooks on the wall where we keep a different bag for each function/activity/sport.  Everything Rosie needs for that activity is in the bag.  It makes morning SO much calmer.  Everything is easy-to-find.  Whew.

3. Plan any first day traditions.

Do you have traditions you’ve established over the years associated with the first day of school?  Some I’ve heard are, special breakfasts, a new favorite outfit, a celebration after school.

4.  Get the camera ready and schedule a haircut.

One common tradition is the first day of school photo!  It’s fun to take it in the same place every year, or do something to give scale to the photo every year.

5.  Practice the bedtime and morning routines before the actual day.  Test your alarm clock.

For everyone’s sanity, don’t wait until the night before to start enforcing a school-night bedtime.  At least a week out, start going to bed at the same time you will have to do when school starts.  Practice getting “up-and-out” if you haven’t been doing that in the summer *hand-raised*.  Check out setting your alarm clock, if you don’t normally do that.  This is not the time you want to mix up the AM/PM and oversleep.

6.  Label anything that has to leave the house – clothes, supplies, bags, shoes, boots, sunglasses.

Kid’s are wonderful but they do not keep track of their stuff!  It’s usually in varying scales of focus, but all kids have lost something and will lose even more.  Buy a combo pack kit, from a company like Mabel’s Labels and go to town!  It will pay for itself and “stuff” you don’t have to replace because they’re lost.  Don’t miss the Mabel’s Labels giveaway hear at KLY- http://t.co/5mMLO2l.

7.  Relax and enjoy the moment… it’s the only time it will be the first day of school, at this exact age.  Treasure it!