It was with trepidation and anxiety that I sent my 6 year old daughter Linda to school last fall. However, as much as I dreaded it I knew that it was essential for her growth as well as mine. I needed a break from looking after him twenty four hours a day and he needed to learn how to interact with other kids, make friends and set into a regular routine. I’ve learned a lot from my experience and would like to share with you tips that I’ve gathered that will help your kids get ready for their first day of school.

Address Your Child’s Nervousness

I was so focused on my own nervousness that I almost forgot about Linda’s fears. Going back to school is a stressful event for a child of any age. We took some time to talk about his fears, making new friends and how I would pick him up after class every day. I believe that our talk helped to cam his nerves and made his first day more manageable.

Get Your Child Accustomed To A Routine

Changing up your child’s routine can be a shocker if they aren’t accustomed to a new schedule. For a week before class started, I would have Linda go to bed and wake up the same time as he would on a school night. This also helped me to adjust my own sleeping schedule as it was a bit off track with the late nights.

Plan Dinner Ahead Of Time

The average family spends 37 minutes a day preparing food and cleaning up. Planning meals out in advance and cooking them “meal prep” style really helped me prepare nutritious and healthy meals without having to spend an hour every night cooking. I spent every Sunday afternoon preparing meals for the entire week. I have to admit that we did eat the same thing every night but it was the most efficient way of getting things done.

Shop For Back To School Items Strategically

I really believe that buying your kids a few items they really like can help them get excited for school. My daughter is a huge fan of Hello Kitty so we got her a Hello Kitty backpack, lunch set and a set of pencils. You definitely don’t have to spend a lot; just a few select items are enough to make their day.

Prepare The Night Before

My preparation the night before included getting my kids clothes out and ready to go, making lunch (it’s so much more efficient to make it the night before than rushing on the day of), picking out my own outfit and even going to the gas station to fill up if the tank was getting low.

Sending your kids back to school can be stressful for both of you but it can also be an opportunity to bond and establish a routine that’s enjoyable and productive.