Last minute reminders??

[Heavenly]

My kids start school on Tuesday, September 2, and we have never done this before. Please help me make sure there is nothing I am forgetting! I have their school uniform clothes but still need to hem a couple of pairs of pants and should probably iron them. I have a sectioned lunch box for each kid (tupperware, but like the laptop lunchbox), I have plastic snack containers, I have a stainless steel water bottle for each child. I've got their backpacks and the school supplies from the list we were given. They have new indoor school shoes (their old ones will work fine for outside). Oh I need to buy socks for DD! Now in regards to things needed to buy am I pretty much covered? If so, whatever tips do you have for me in regards to actually getting ready for the day? I figure I will pack as much of their lunch as I can the night before and lay their school clothes out for the morning. As you can tell I am slightly nervous so any tips are appreciated!

[karne]

Well, I know for us we aim for a very calm eve. the night before school with an early bedtime, especially since falling asleep can take some time. I am definitely one that sets out everything the night before because mornings aren't great decision making times for us. We usually have a special breakfast with good protein the first morning-I don't mean to say we don't have good food every AM, just that we try to celebrate a bit. I might bake a coffee cake, etc. And I also find that the first day or two is emotional and very tiring, so I aim for very low key afternoons and decent bedtimes (my kids, elementary aged, are up in their rooms by 7-7:30), and I just try to remember what a big deal it is for little kids to start back to school!

Sorry-probably not the nuts and bolts advice you were looking for, but for us a successful start includes all of the above. Good luck!

[veganf]

Hope their first day goes well! For you too!

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

We started a little over a week ago -- though not for the first time, but DD did start K. Sounds like you are covered on the "things to buy" for the moment. Though be prepared for the "X has this cool snack container / thermos / pencil case... Can I have one too? routine.

A few tips:

Get into the habit of having each kid set out ALL of their uniform pieces the night before. We have hooks on the end of the bookcases for this. Include skirt/pants, top, belt, socks, shoes, jacket if needed, hair bows, under-skirt shorts -- whatever is part of getting dressed. This gives you time to fix "I can't find this or I need a this clean" problems. There is less flexibility in some uniform requirements, so you need recovery time if there is an issue. We do this as part of our bedtime routine.

I pack snacks/lunches in the morning just because I don't have space in the fridge for lunch boxes and I don't like pre-made sandiwches. But if you can do stuff ahead, great. You will probably need to experiment for a bit before you have the right amount of lunch and snacks. Both my kids eat a surprising amount during thed day.

Have a specific place to store backpacks when they come in each day. Have a routine to check/empty them (otherwise you'll find that uneaten apple 2 weeks from now...). We have a set of wire "cubes" (think cubbies) for stuff like this by the front door. Also make it part of your routine to read and sign things immediately and put them back in the packback. Otherwise stuff gets lost and/or you don't know about something important. No fun to scramble for a permission slip in the car the day its due! This is especially true the first couple of weeks of school when lots of info comes home!

Be prepared for tired, tantrummy, whiny kids the first few days. Its an adjustment (even if they are used to school). It doesn't mean you made the wrong choice (I know this has been agonizing for you), it just means everyone needs to adjust to a new situation. Even my kds (who are used to school, and this school) have issues during the first few weeks of school. Transitions take time -- don't jump to conclusions too fast!!

[sunnmama]

I can't think of anything you are forgetting....you seem to have it covered!

I will echo what the pp said about expect emotional kids during the initial adjustment. Dd just started school for the first time ever (grade 2) on Monday, and it has been quite a week of emotions. But I can't not believe how well she has adjusted in just 5 short days, and she is doing really well. I am so proud of her!