We’re coming up on the time of year when we need to start thinking about back-to-school prep. Even though we are still not 100% sure if our kids are in fact going back to school or not, we need to be somehow prepared for the eventuality that they will. Of course, the typical back-to-school concerns are heightened this year by the fact that kids have been out of school since mid-March.

Here are some tips for preparing to be prepared in the event schools actually re-open, and for making the transition smoother for your kids as they go back to school under very different circumstances than last year.

1. Don’t be anxious – at least not outwardly

I know it’s easier said than done, but curbing your anxiety surrounding the big day can go a long way toward making it easier for your kids, too.

Our little ones are so good at picking up on our emotions, so do your best to portray excitement about the return to school, no matter how concerned you might be.

There’s no need to go overboard with summertime studying and workbooks as most schools already have a plan in place for catch-up lessons. If you seem worried about your child’s academic progress, it will only make them feel anxious, too – not to mention incapable.

A can-do attitude can take both of you surprisingly far!

2. Plan to buy uniforms

If your kids attend state school then you probably already know that uniforms have changed. If not, your kids most probably have grown out of a few items. Either way, personally, I would not recommend buying uniforms now. I know plenty of mamas who’ve bought brand new uniforms last scholastic year to only have been worn a few weeks, and are now too small, so let’s try and avoid this mishap.

Instead, try on your child’s current uniform and see whether you’ll need to order a size or two up. Make a list of what you need to buy, so when it’s go time you’re ready to hit the buy buttton.
Be prepared for shopping frenzies in the last 2/3 weeks and out of stock items. I’m not stressed out about this, as I am sure that schools will be very understanding given the situation.

3. Get ahead on the stationery list

Whether schools re-open or not, textbooks will still be needed. When it comes to the rest of the stationery list, I am buying the full list, but refraining from covering copybooks in specific colours or labelling with specific subjects.

Yes, you did read right, for the first time in probably about 10 years I have not done any back-to-school stationery prep of any sort. I was feeling so uneasy and unsure that I did not do any prep work (despite having the list in hand beginning of June!) However, I plan to buy everything and keep them stored away ready to be finalised when we get a definite YES.

4. Basic school supplies

Do your kids have a backpack, lunchbag, lunchbox, bottle, serviette, pocket?
It’s also a great idea to buy several small empty bottles which you can fill with sanitiser. Kids are prone to losing stuff, and this way you can always place a spare one in their bags. If they do lose one, they’ve only lost a small quantity, rather than losing a larger sized one which is more expensive. I can alreadu imagine my 5 year old spraying away to her heart’s content, and that also means I’d need to refill daily 🙂

5. What’s for lunch?

Start thinking about what to pack into your child’s lunchbox. Try and incorporate as much fresh fruit & veg as your child will eat. If your child isn’t so keen, don’t worry, my child isn’t the best at this either. She does love her somewhat limited selection of fruits and very few veg, so I always pack those. Then I also add carbs – Nina’s choice is pasta. It might be bread, or crackers for your child. Some dairy is a great lunchbox filler (if your kid eats dairy of course), and little homemade patties/pies/pizzas are always a treat. I batch cook these and pop them out of the freezer on a daily basis.
If you feel overwhelmed, make a list of all the items you could pack and keep it handy, ready to go for when it’s back-to-school time.

6. Address their concerns

If your kids are old enough to understand why school shut down in the first place, there’s a pretty good chance they’re wondering if it’s safe to go back now.

Do your best to reassure them that we know a lot more about coronavirus than we did back then and that schools are doing everything they can to ensure a safe environment. 

Remind them that their school will have rules to follow that are designed to keep everyone healthy and that they should be fine as long as they follow those rules.

As the day draws closer, we’re sure to hear some specifics about the measures that schools will be using, so review these rules with your child and explain why they’re important as part of your ‘post-coronavirus’ back-to-school prep.

7. Focus on the positives

All the pep talks in the world may not erase all of your child’s doubts about the big return, so be sure to remind them of the many huge upsides of going back to school.

They will get to see their friends every day once again, and it also means resuming fun classes such as art, music and physical education. You know your kids best, so play up this angle in a way that speaks to them to try to build some excitement ahead of the big day.

8. Start the transition into your school bedtime

In summer, the days are longer and it’s only natural to find bedtime shifting by an hour or two to maximize our fun in the sun. But don’t expect your kids to fall asleep at 8:00 the night before school starts after staying up ’til 10 every night all summer.

A couple of weeks before the first day of school, start moving bedtime forward in increments of about 20 to 30 minutes to make the transition smoother.

Getting enough sleep is crucial for helping your children keep their emotions under control, and of course, well-rested kids perform better academically, too. And in the post-coronavirus world, we can’t ignore the fact that getting enough sleep can help keep your immunity up!

9. Give them something to look forward to beyond school

Plan something fun to look forward to the weekend after school starts. Even if they don’t admit it, your kids probably really enjoyed all the extra family time they’ve had this year. This will help them to see that you’ll still be able to enjoy time together.

This might also be the right time to start a family routine if you don’t already have one, like board games and pizza on Friday nights.

As mums, we all want to make sure that our kids enjoy every moment of their childhood. The world has changed, but going back to school marks the return to a familiar routine that can be surprisingly healing.

Even with the best back-to-school prep plan, the first few days might be a little challenging – but that’s often the case even under normal circumstances. Try not to get discouraged. Kids are a lot more resilient than adults, and they might handle it far better than you think!

Here are a few more handy school blog posts you might enjoy

Back to school: 10 things to prep you might not have thought of

Tips to make preparing lunches more bearable

5 ways to help your child have a great day at school

Happy back-to-school prep mamas!

Love,

Nakita xxx