Parents need to be at the top of their game as summer draws to a close. There’s so much to do before the days of packing lunches and helping with homework resume.
While it’s not time to get the cameras ready for those first day of school pictures just yet, it’s best to start planning now for a smooth transition into the school days routine.
Here’s a handy back-to-school checklist that should cover everything you need to do before the first day of class.
First Steps
- Call the school district with questions about your child’s school
- Find out what day classes start and what time your child should arrive
- Enroll your child (if she is not already registered from the previous year)
- Fill out emergency contact sheets and any other required forms
Check Medical Requirements
- Make sure your child has all required immunizations
- Schedule a physical exam for your child if needed to participate in school activities
- Get your child’s vision checked before school starts if he is due for an exam
- Notify the principal’s office, the school nurse, and your child’s teachers about any health problems or medications
Stock Up on School Supplies
- Check the school website or call for a list of required supplies
- Find out whether students will store supplies at school or bring them home each day
- Buy a backpack or bag to carry daily items
- Review the school dress code
- Buy school uniforms and gym clothes, if necessary
Learn About the School
- Find out whether the teacher prefers to communicate by phone, email, or written note
- Know what your child is expected to learn in her grade level
- Familiarize yourself with the information on the school website
- Note the phone numbers for checking school closures or reporting absences
- Find out the procedure for taking your child out of school early
- Read the school handbook and make sure your child understands the rules
- Review the school’s federal “report card”
Plan To Be Involved
- Mark school events on the family calendar
- Attend the back-to-school program
- Schedule and attend parent-teacher conferences
- Meet leaders of the parent-teacher group
Plan Healthy Meals
- Have nutritious food on hand for breakfast and after-school snacks
- Find out how much school breakfasts and lunches cost
- Find out whether snacks and drinks are available at school or can be brought from home
- Ask where to obtain weekly school lunch menus
- Alert school staff if your child has a severe food allergy
Arrange Transportation
- Practice getting to school with your child
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- BUS: Make sure she knows where and when to be picked up before and after school
- BICYCLE: Review road safety and make sure he has a helmet
- ON FOOT: Walk the route together and review pedestrian safety guidelines
- Arrange a carpool if necessary and introduce your child to the other adults and children
- Compile contact information of parents who can pick up your child in an emergency
Make After-School Plans
- Arrange child care or after-school activities
- Choose extracurricular activities carefully to avoid overscheduling
- Make sure your child knows where to go after school each day
Help Your Child Prepare for School
- Arrange for your child to play with others in his age group before classes start
- Discuss your child’s feelings about starting school and talk over any concerns
- Talk with your child about his daily school schedule
- Talk about peer pressure with your child
- Have your child memorize your home address and home and work phone numbers
- Tour the school with your child so she can find her classrooms, the restrooms, and the cafeteria
- Arrange a time for you and your child to meet his new teachers
Lay the Ground Rules
- Establish a firm bedtime before school starts
- Determine where and when your child will do homework
- Figure out a plan for balancing homework and play time
- Set rules for the time spent on TV, video games, and computer use for non-school projects
