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Family organization and routines

Back-to-school prep

The jobs a family does in the weeks before school starts, from checkups and forms to supplies, a budget and shifting bedtime earlier.

What It Means

Back-to-school prep is everything a family gets done in the weeks before a new school year: health checks and forms, supplies and clothes, a budgetBudgetA plan for a set period, usually a month, that lists the money you expect to receive and how you'll spend or save it. See more for the costs, and a shift back to school-nightBack-to-school nightAn evening event early in the school year where parents visit the school, meet teachers and hear the class routines and expectations for the year. See more sleep. HealthyChildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), suggests starting the move to earlier bedtimes a week or two before the first day. Spreading the jobs, and the spending, over several weeks keeps the last few days from turning into a rush.

Try It: Spread Back-to-School Costs Over the Weeks Left

Enter what you expect to spend for one child and how many weeks are left. The amounts are examples; use your school's supply list.

Total for all children$380
Set aside each week$63.33

With more than two weeks left, there's time to shift bedtime gradually, as the AASM suggests.

How It Sounds at Home

  • "We need to get her physical done before school."
  • "Supply list came out, I'm ordering this weekend."
  • "Bedtime's moving earlier starting Monday."

The Breakdown

Worked example. One child, six weeks before school:

ItemExample cost
Supplies from the school list$80
Clothes$150
Shoes and backpack$90
Fees and activities$60
Total$380

$380 รท 6 weeks = $63.33 a week. Setting that aside each week means the costs are covered by the first day rather than landing on one paycheck. Double the inputs for two children and the weekly figure doubles too.

What the result means. The weekly amount is how much to put aside to be ready in time. If it's more than the budget can take, cut or delay what isn't needed on day one, like a second pair of shoes.

The rest of the prep

  • Checkup: HealthyChildren.org suggests one if your child hasn't had a well-child visit in the past year.
  • Immunizations up to date: most schools require routine childhood immunizations.
  • Forms signed and returned, and emergency contacts updated.
  • Visit the school or classroom before the first day, and go to any orientation.
  • Bedtime moved earlier, a week or two ahead per HealthyChildren.org, or at least two weeks per the AASM.
  • A backpack with broad, adjustable straps, worn on both shoulders, and no heavier than 15% of your child's body weight, per HealthyChildren.org's backpack safety page.

Good to Know

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests starting the shift to a school sleep scheduleSleep scheduleThe set times a person goes to bed and gets up each day, planned so they get the hours of sleep recommended for their age. See more at least two weeks before school starts, moving bedtime and wake-up earlier bit by bit rather than all at once the night before. At the checkup, HealthyChildren.org notes, the pediatrician can go over any treatment plans your child needs during the school day. Check your school's own supplyMilk supplyHow much breast milk a parent's body makes. It's driven by supply and demand: the more often milk is removed, the more the body makes. See more list and immunization requirements, since both vary by school and state.

FAQ

When should I start back-to-school prep?

A few weeks ahead works well. For sleep, the AASM suggests starting the shift at least two weeks before school, and HealthyChildren.org says a week or two.

Does my child need a physical before school?

HealthyChildren.org suggests scheduling a back-to-school checkup if your child hasn't had one in the past year. Ask your school whether it needs a form from the visit.

How do I budget for back-to-school costs?

Add up supplies, clothes, shoes and fees for each child, then divide by the weeks left and set that amount aside each week. The calculator above does the math.

Do It in Buhata

Countdown, Goals (Plus), Shopping, Calendar

Set a Countdown in Buhata to the first day of school, create a Goal (Plus) for the back-to-school total, and add the supply list to Shopping in your Household Space.

Open Buhata

Related Terms and Categories

  • Sinking fund

    Money set aside in small, regular amounts for a known future cost, so the bill doesn't land on a single paycheck.

  • Backpack station

    A set spot near the door, usually hooks plus a shelf or bin, where school bags and the things that go with them live between school days.

  • Homework station

    One set spot at home for schoolwork, stocked with the supplies a child needs, so homework starts in the same quiet place each day.

  • Sleep schedule

    The set times a person goes to bed and gets up each day, planned so they get the hours of sleep recommended for their age.

  • Kids morning routine

    The same short list of steps a child follows each school or child care morning, such as dressing, breakfast, brushing teeth and grabbing a backpack.

  • Summer schedule

    A family's plan for the school break: steady wake and bed times, blocks for camp, play and chores, and a slow shift back before school starts.

Family organization and routines

Sources

HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "Back-to-School Tips for Families"; HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "Back to School, Back to the Doctor: How Annual Checkups Support Your Child's Health"; HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "3 Ways to Help Your Kids Have a Healthy School Year"; HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "Checklist for the First Day of School"; American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Sleep Education, "Back to school sleep tips every parent should know"; HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "School Backpack Safety"

Last updated .