5 Tips to Reduce Back-to-School Stress

School is right around the corner! For those whose children are in schools with year-round schedules, the first day of class is coming up sooner rather than later. Transitioning from a laid-back summer break into a more routine schedule can be hard for everyone involved. This change of routine can cause stress for both parents and children, and that’s no fun, is it? These five tips can help you get back into the swing of school:

•  Start making checklists. With so many things to remember, making checklists of what needs to be done reduces stress and helps everyone stay organized.
• Have a family calendar. It’s hard to juggle several different calendars at one time. Between school events, extracurricular activities, and everything in between, it is impossible to keep things straight. Consider creating a family calendar to help you track everyone’s schedules. Maybe you have a dry erase calendar you can use, or you can make an online calendar easily accessible on everyone’s cell phones.
• Identify a launch pad. “Where’s my backpack?” I bet a few of you have heard that before as everyone is headed out the door for school. It’s a smart idea to pick a designated spot in the house to place all items needed for the next day. Before heading to bed, you can place backpacks, sports equipment, keys, and anything you or your kids might need before going to school. This will help make mornings more organized and less stressful!
• Establish a nighttime routine. You’ll reduce stress in the mornings by making sure lunches are packed, homework is finished, and clothes are laid out. Involve your kids in the preparation process by having them help pick out their outfits and what they want to eat for lunch the next day.
• Get plenty of rest. Your children need rest! The same goes for you, parents and/or guardians! Getting enough sleep each night is a key component to reducing stress. The National Sleep Foundation suggests children 6 to 13 years old need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night, while older children ages 14 to17 need 8 to 10 hours of sleep.

The start of a new school year can be a challenging, but it’s an oh-so exciting time! There’s so much growth, learning, and fun to be had.

 For more back-to-school information, be sure to check out MSU Extension resources:

• Back to School: Tips for Better Sleep 
• How to Make Healthy Lunches and Snacks for Children 
• MSU Extension Children and Parenting Publications 

Here’s to a fantastic new school year!