Anybody else feel like this summer literally flew by? It was also record-breaking heat for weeks on end without any rain in sight. I have never been more ready for some cooler fall weather! Speaking of fall, school is only two weeks away for us here in Arkansas. This year I have 5th grader! How on earth?

Today we’re going to talk about getting ready to go back to school. Specifically, getting back in the habits and routines that are needed for a smooth morning and successful day for both ourselves and our children. Maybe you had routines in place all summer and this seems like an unnecessary practice, to which I say, good for you! Unfortunately, summer for the rest of us has no idea what words like schedule or routine mean…but we have 2 weeks to fix that! I have compiled a few of the ways our family prepares for the coming school year, and I hope you find a few ideas that help your family as well.

Tips to prepare for back to school:

1. Time to bring back the early bedtime (if you haven’t already.)
2. Begin waking 15 minutes earlier each morning until you reach the prime wake-up time for your busy school mornings. Easing into it will make it less of a shock and may involve less grumbling (not a guarantee, grumbling may still occur!)
3. Clean out all the kid’s closets. Now is the time to get rid of anything that doesn’t fit and see what clothing needs are present. Take advantage of the back-to-school clothing sales coming up!
4. Create a “lunch plan” with your kids. Brainstorm some yummy lunch ideas together. Having a list hanging on the fridge of ideas you know your kids loves will help make packing lunches run a little smoother (whether it’s your or your kids packing them!) You can even prep sandwiches ahead of time!
5. Start shopping for school supplies. Lists should be out in stores by now, but you can find a list for your child’s grade on the school websites. Remember how last year you waited till the last minute, and everything was sold out and there were meltdowns all around? Yeah, let’s not do that this year! Grab your list and get going! (You can also order Walmart or Target pickup. Praise hands!)
6. Set aside a few minutes of intentional reading time. (I can hear the kids groaning now.) Getting back into the groove of reading will help make the transition from summer freedom to classroom structure a little bit easier. I promise.
7. Don’t forget that first day of school picture. It doesn’t have to be professional and fussy. Just snap a quick pick in the front yard! It is so fun to look back and see how much they’ve grown in a year. (Warning: this may cause some tears for you, Mama. But it’s worth it.)
8. Meal prep or plan a few easy dinners for the first week of school. Whether you stay at home or work outside the home while the kids are in school, not having to worry about dinner this first week will save your sanity as you ease back into a regular evening routine.

If you have any tips or ideas that your family uses in the weeks leading up to the first day of school, please share them in the comments! I love hearing about what works for other families!

I hope your last couple weeks of summer are full of fun, adventure, lots of love and rest. I will be praying for each of your children (and for you, Mamas) as the school year begins!