Back-to-School Made Easier: 5 Tips for a Smooth, Successful Year

It’s August, summer is winding down, and school’s about to start. Even though my kids are grown and gone, this time of year still stirs up mixed emotions: the excitement of a fresh start and the dread of new routines, making friends, and, in my childhood, adjusting to yet another new school. As an Air Force brat, I switched schools seven times (plus the usual middle and high school changes), which was more than most kids and definitely more stressful. My first day of fourth grade still haunts me. 

That’s why, when I had kids of my own, we stayed put. They moved schools once and did the regular transitions to middle school and high school. Which was great, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t hard. I think for any kid there is some trepidation. To ease into the school year here are a few tips – and a few tools that can be found at our stores (wink, wink) – to get a head start on the school year.

1. Focus on the social aspects, not just academics. 

For the younger kiddos, talk with them about making new friends, being kind to classmates, and asking for help when needed. If they’re willing to do it, role-play introducing themselves to new kids or approaching a teacher with questions. Strong social skills often contribute more to school success than academic preparation alone.

2. Connect with your child's teacher early and stay engaged. 

For kids of all ages, attend back-to-school nights (Call me a nerd, but I loved back-to-school night), introduce yourself via email, and ask how you can best support learning at home. Teachers appreciate parents who communicate openly about their child's needs, interests, or challenges. This partnership is especially important if you have a child that requires 504 accommodations or a specialized learning plan.

3. Give teens more control over their academic and social lives while keeping communication open. 

Unlike younger kids who need more structure imposed by parents, teens benefit from setting their own study schedules, choosing which clubs or activities interest them, and managing their social calendars with guidance rather than micromanagement. From personal experience, stay off PowerSchool but have regular check-ins about grades, friendships, and stress levels. Again, learn from my mistakes, resist the urge to solve every problem for them. Instead ask questions like "How do you think you want to handle this?" or "What support do you need from me?" This builds the decision-making skills they'll need for college and adulthood while keeping you connected to their world. 

4. Use a centralized family calendar system that everyone can access and contribute to. 

Whether it's a large wall calendar in the kitchen (our personal preference!), a shared digital calendar, or a combination of both, make sure all family members' activities, school events, and commitments are visible in one place. This is important: teach kids to write down their own activities, test dates, and project due dates as soon as they learn about them. Tricks like color-coding each family member or different symbols for different types of activities help. For older kids and teens, encourage them to keep their own personal planner or phone calendar that syncs with the family system. The key here is consistency.  Make it a habit like brushing your teeth.

5. Schedule a weekly family meeting to review the upcoming week together. 

This is one thing we didn’t do and in hindsight I wish we had. It’s a perfect opportunity to discuss transportation needs, plan meals around busy schedules, and identify potential conflicts before they become problems. Most importantly, it takes the mental load off one person (ahem, Mom) and shares it with the entire family.  

My bonus tip is for my fellow moms out there. Make sure Dad is on all the same listservs and is getting all the same calendar and appointment notifications you are. Decide who will be responsible for what aspect of everyday life early and clearly define those roles.  This is true whether you work in or outside the home. He does not need to be managed by you, too. Instead, he is your partner in this thing called parenthood. Which, as you know, is really, really, really, really hard. You don’t have to go it alone.

As always, our teams are here to help you prepare for a successful school year.  Supplies like calendars and academic planners, notebooks and pens at Penny Post, backpacks and lunch boxes at Pippin Toy Co., and bath salts and scented candles for keeping your internal peace at Red Barn Mercantile.

Stop in and let us help you make this year the best year for all!

SEE ALSO: Planners: Your Secret Weapon Against Life's Beautiful Chaos