Tip #1: Start preparing early!
As the school semester approaches, we are generally trying to plan a whole bunch of exciting last-minute vacations and activities. We want to squeeze every last drop out of the summer schedule. Unfortunately, sometimes we leave the prep for school till the very last minute. When we take time to schedule our preparations and get them done early, it can make the transition into the school year much less stressful and even make the last days of summer more enjoyable. Here are some things to start working on now to reduce the school prep stress:
School supply shopping – most schools post lists of necessary supplies on their website. You can even check your local Walmart for a QR code that allows you to see exactly what your child will need for the year!
Clothing inventory – Kids tend to wear out a lot of clothes during the summer. Take half an hour to go through their clothes with them and make sure they will have everything they need. Don’t forget the shoes!
Vehicle maintenance – You are going to be spending a lot of time shuttling kids back and forth to school and extracurricular activities. Make sure that your vehicle is ready to go by checking the air filter, tires, oil, and other fluids. Make any repairs now so they don’t slow you down during the first few weeks of school.
Tip #2: Practice your school schedule.
One of the wonderful things about summer is the more relaxed schedule. We love to let the kids stay up late and sleep in late. It makes for a lot of special times with our kids and lets them feel a sense of freedom from the daily grind. However, our bodies need to adjust to major schedule changes. Start practicing the wake up and bedtime routines of your school year schedule a week or more in advance to make sure that your kids’ bodies and brains are ready to go on the first day of school. If your summer schedule is wildly different from your school time, it may take a gradual return to the necessary schedule to avoid unpleasant behaviors.
Tip #3: Make a meal plan.
In our fast-paced society, it is easy to overlook meals until it is too late to prepare for them. When this happens, we generally end up eating more expensive, less healthy meals. Sit down with your kids and have some fun making a meal plan for a week that takes into account your schedule, cooking skills, and nutritional needs. It is tempting to overestimate your time and energy levels during the summer, so give yourself some grace and don’t plan things that are unrealistic for you. Once you have your list, make a shopping list that can be re-used every week to replenish the meals you have cooked. If you get bored with meals easily, plan to re-evaluate your meal plan about once a month and make a few substitutions to keep things interesting. Make sure to pick out a few easy meals that give you a break and don’t feel guilty if you have to pick up food every once in a while.
Tip #4: Reinforce your values and expectations.
During the school year, kids (and especially teens) are exposed to a lot of new ideas and beliefs. As parents, we are responsible for making sure that our children have a firm foundation on which to build their lives. In fact, kids who know what their parents believe and who regularly have positive conversations about family values, tend to do better both in school and in life. Take the opportunity during the last few weeks of summer to have intentional conversations with your kids about your beliefs and behavioral expectations. Kids thrive in environments with positive structure. Don’t be afraid to explain why you believe what you do. “Why” is a favorite question for kids of all ages, and it helps them to understand the reasons behind their parent’s values. Make sure to allow them to ask appropriate questions during these conversations. It will help them to feel more comfortable asking you questions when they run into a problem or a different belief system that challenges their own.
Tip #5: Do less better.
The school semester is full of an incredible number of opportunities for our kids. In fact, here in America, there are sometimes too many opportunities. Whether it is sports, clubs, band, UIL, music lessons, 4H or some other event, we want to see our children experience life to the fullest. Unfortunately, allowing (or pushing) our children into too many activities can actually cause more harm than good. Expecting a high level of performance in many different activities in addition to school can overload kids with stress and performance anxiety. Kids (and parents) often choose activities based on what they believe will make their friend groups happy or on what their “heroes” do. As parents, it is important for us to guide our children into the activities that will be the most beneficial for each individual child. Take time before the semester starts to sit down with your kids and ask what activities they would like to do, compare those lists to the things you know will be best for your children, and then work with your kids to select only one or two extracurricular activities for the semester. Try to choose the activities that will have the most positive impact on their character, health, and future stability. Let your kids know that they are committing to a full semester of whatever the activity is, but that they may reconsider during the Christmas break. Remember, at the end of the day, you are the parent, and it falls to you to help them choose wisely.