Preschool-one
month to one week before school |
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Spend
time talking with your child about school.
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Practice
separating for hours at a time.
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Read
stories about the first day of school to your child.
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Plan
a back-to-school shopping expedition.
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Buy
or gather supplies your preschooler will likely need to bring
to school.
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Buy
supplies your preschooler will likely need to use at home.
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Put
your child's name on her supplies, lunchbox, mat, blanket, pillow,
and inside clothing.
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Teach
your child important safety information and make sure she commits
it to memory.
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Preschool-one
week before school |
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Whether
your child will walk, ride the bus, or be driven to school,
take a "dry run" of the route with your child.
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If
your child will be taking the bus to school, do a practice walk
to the bus stop.
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Attend
an open house or get-acquainted day at school, if there is one,
with your child.
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If
there's no open house, schedule an appointment to take a tour
of the school building with your child.
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Put
your child to bed earlier each night until she's turning in
at an appropriate school-night bedtime.
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Get
your child used to waking up in the morning at a school-day
appropriate time.
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Spend
the last day or two before school starts at home with your child.
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Preschool-the
night before school starts |
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Pick
out school clothes for the morning.
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Tuck
in your child at an appropriate school-night hour.
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Before
your child goes to sleep, listen carefully to her fears and
respond.
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Read
a bedtime, back-to-school storybook to your child.
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Pack
stay-at-school cubby supplies in a bag that can also stay at
school.
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Pack
your child's lunch for the next day and refrigerate it.
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Gather
in one place everything that's going to school with your child
in the morning.
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Preschool-the
morning school starts |
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Take
care of any last-minute tasks.
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Even
if you can't do so every day, try to bring your child to school
personally on the first day and say goodbyes there.
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Let
your child get used to the environment before you leave.
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Primary
school-several months before school begins |
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For
a child, entering elementary school means entering the academic
world for the first time. This brings with it a whole new set
of anxieties and preparations.
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Speak
to the principal in the spring or summer before school starts
about what your child is expected to know by the time she enters
kindergarten or first grade.
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Help
her get up to speed so she can keep up academically with the
rest of her class.
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If
your child has any special needs, notify the school and confirm
that acceptable accommodations can be made.
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Primary
school-one month to one week before school |
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Try
on last-year's school clothes to see what still fits.
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Go
shopping for those items that have to be replaced.
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If
you'll be buying a school uniform, find out from your school
whether any local retailers are offering special deals. If so,
you may be able to get a new uniform for your child at a discount.
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Stock
up on supplies your child will need to bring to school.
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Let
your child select her own lunchbox, backpack, and outfit for
the first day of school.
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Stock
up on supplies your child will need to have on hand at home.
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If
you have a home computer, make sure it is ready to be used for
schoolwork.
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Schedule
an appointment with your child's pediatrician for a physical
exam, if needed.
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Bring
the school's medical form with you to your child's doctor appointment
so it can be filled out.
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Make
arrangements for after-school activities or childcare.
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If
you plan to participate in any carpools, start organizing them
now.
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Spend
time listening to your child's concerns about going back to
school.
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Sew
name tags or write your child's name in indelible ink on clothing
she's likely to take off during the day and small items like
headbands, hats, and mittens.
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Primary
school-one week before school |
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Read
through and review school regulations with your child.
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Make
sure all school forms have been completed and returned to school.
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Take
your child to check out her classroom and say hello to the teacher.
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Attend
an open house or "get acquainted" school event with your child,
if there is one.
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Help
your child become familiar with the route to and from school.
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Start
moving bedtime back until your child is turning in at an appropriate
school-night hour.
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Primary
school-the night before school starts
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Designate
a place in the house for school paperwork.
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Check
your child's backpack to be sure she has everything she needs.
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Go
over after-school plans with your child.
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Help
your child pick out clothes for the next day.
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Start
the bedtime routine a bit early so your child is sure to get
plenty of sleep.
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Spend
some tuck-in time talking with your child about school.
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Pack
lunch for your child and refrigerate it until morning.
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Primary
school-the morning school starts |
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Encourage
your child to start getting her morning act together on her
own.
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Take
care of any last minute tasks.
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Remind
your child of her after-school plans.
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Even
if you can't do it every day, if possible, take your child to
the bus stop or to school on the first day.
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Say
a cheerful goodbye and leave promptly when the bus comes or
bell rings.
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Primary
school-after the first day of school |
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Prepare
a snack for your child, and one for yourself.
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Get
your child to talk about her first-day impressions.
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Call
the school immediately if you have any questions or concerns.
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Ask
for--and read--any notices that were sent home.
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Purchase
whatever additional school supplies and materials are required.
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Make
a special dinner.
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Middle
and high school-one month before school |
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Be
ready to grant your adolescent some new privileges.
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Allowing
your child to do her own back-to-school shopping is a good way
to show her you trust her judgment.
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Take
the initiative to start back-to-school preparations.
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Encourage
your child to try on last-year's school clothes and see what
still fits.
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Go
shopping, together if needed, for those wardrobe items that
have to be replaced or updated.
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If
your child will need a school uniform, find out from your school
whether any local retailers are offering special deals. If so,
you may be able to enjoy a discount.
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Encourage
your child to shop for school supplies on her own.
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If
you have a home computer, make sure it is ready to be used for
schoolwork.
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Schedule
an appointment with your child's doctor for a physical exam,
if needed.
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Bring
the school's medical form with to your child's doctor appointment
so it can be filled out.
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Talk
with your child about after-school activities she'd like to
participate in and make the necessary arrangements.
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If
you plan to participate in any carpools, start organizing them
now.
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Try
to take your child to school ahead of time.
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If
your child has any special needs, notify the school and confirm
that acceptable accommodations can be made.
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Middle
through high school-one week before school |
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Address
any concerns your child may have about going back to school.
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Familiarize
your child with her new school-year schedule.
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Read
through and review school regulations with your child.
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Make
sure that all school forms have been completed and returned
to school.
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Middle
and high school-the night before school starts |
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Remind
your child to pack her book bag.
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Designate
a place in the house for school paperwork.
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Spend
some time talking with your child about school.
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Try
to get your child to bed at a reasonable hour.
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If
your child lets you, pack her lunch or snack.
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Middle
and high school-the morning school starts |
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Make
sure your child wakes up in time for school.
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Prepare
a special breakfast.
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Go
over after-school plans.
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Let
your child know where you'll be all day and how to reach you.
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Say
a cheerful, confident goodbye.
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Middle
through high school-after the first day of school |
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Try
to be there when your child arrives home from school the first
day.
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Prepare
a snack for your child, and one for yourself.
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Get
your child to talk about her first-day impressions.
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Call
the school immediately if you have any questions or concerns.
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Ask
for--and read--any notices that were sent home.
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Purchase
whatever additional school supplies and materials are required.
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Make
a special dinner.
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