How to Get Kids Ready for Back to School: A Realistic 2-Week Plan

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Getting kids ready for back to school sounds simple until you are trying to reset summer bedtimes, finish school shopping, find shoes that still fit, label supplies, prepare lunches, organize backpacks, and help a nervous child feel ready, all at the same time.

As a mom of four boys, with two elementary-aged children and two younger boys at home, I have learned that a calm first day of school is rarely created the night before. Our transition goes much more smoothly when I start adjusting a few small things about two weeks before school begins.

I do not suddenly turn our relaxed summer days into a strict school schedule. That usually leaves everyone tired, resistant, and frustrated. Instead, I slowly reset bedtime, practice our morning routine, organize the school areas in our home, and talk with my boys about what they are expecting from the new year.

The goal is not to create a perfect back-to-school routine. It is to make the first week feel familiar enough that we are not trying to remember everything while rushing out the door.

This realistic two-week back-to-school plan will help you prepare your children emotionally, reset their sleep schedule, practice school mornings, organize school supplies, prepare lunches, and create simple systems that make the transition easier for the whole family.

Download the Free Back-to-School Checklist for Moms

There are too many small back-to-school tasks to keep inside your head.

My free printable Back-to-School Checklist for Moms includes school supplies, clothes, paperwork, lunch preparation, homework-station essentials, first-week reminders, and a complete night-before-school checklist.

Download free printable Back-to-School Checklist for Moms

Print it, keep it on your refrigerator or family command center, and work through one section at a time.

Your Two-Week Back-to-School Plan at a Glance

Here is the simple timeline I use to move our family from summer mode into a more predictable school routine.

About Two Weeks Before School

• Talk about feelings and expectations.
• Confirm school dates, hours, and transportation.
• Begin moving bedtime and wake-up time earlier.
• Check clothes, shoes, backpacks, and lunch supplies.
• Review the school supply list.

About One Week Before School

• Practice the morning routine.
• Finish essential school shopping.
• Label supplies and personal items.
• Set up backpack, lunch, and paperwork areas.
• Plan simple school breakfasts and lunches.
• Prepare the homework area.

Two or Three Days Before School

• Pack backpacks.
• Choose first-day clothes.
• Review drop-off and pickup plans.
• Stock easy breakfast and snack options.
• Check calendars and school communication apps.
• Keep evenings relatively calm.

The Night Before School

• Finish packing backpacks.
• Prepare lunches and water bottles.
• Lay out clothes and shoes.
• Check school papers.
• Set alarms.
• Begin bedtime early enough that no one feels rushed.

You do not need to complete every step perfectly. Even choosing the five tasks that would reduce the most stress in your home can make the first week easier.

Two Weeks Before School: Talk About What Is Changing

I begin talking with my boys about school before I start pushing routines and responsibilities.

I do not turn it into one big, serious conversation because that can feel like an interrogation. Instead, I bring up school naturally while we are shopping, organizing supplies, eating together, or driving somewhere.

I might ask:

• What are you most excited about this year?
• Is there anything you are worried about?
• Who are you hoping will be in your class?
• What part of the school day feels hardest?
• Is there something you want to do differently this year?
• What would help the first morning feel easier?

Specific questions usually work better than asking, “Are you excited about school?”

A child may say yes while quietly worrying about having a new teacher, finding his classroom, keeping up with schoolwork, being separated from a friend, or knowing where to go during lunch.

When possible, look at pictures of the school, drive past it, attend orientation, or review where drop-off and pickup will happen. Familiarity cannot remove every nervous feeling, but it can make the first day feel less mysterious.

Try to stay positive without dismissing difficult feelings.

Instead of saying:

“There is nothing to be nervous about.”

Try:

“It makes sense that you feel nervous about having a new teacher. Let’s think about what could help you feel more prepared.”

The goal is not to convince children that every part of school will be easy. It is to show them that their feelings are safe to talk about and that your family can handle new situations together.

Confirm the Important School Details Early

Before creating an elaborate routine, confirm the basic information that will shape your family’s day.

Check:

• The first day of school
• School start and dismissal times
• Drop-off and pickup procedures
• Bus or transportation details
• Teacher and classroom assignments
• Orientation dates
• School uniform or clothing requirements
• Lunch and snack rules
• School supply lists
• Required communication apps
• Important forms and medical information
• After-school activity schedules

I add all confirmed dates to our family calendar as soon as I receive them. When information remains inside an email, school app, paper folder, and text message at the same time, I am much more likely to overlook something.

If your school uses several apps, create one folder on your phone for all school-related apps. Save teacher contact information and bookmark the pages you expect to check regularly.

Completing paperwork early is not exciting, but it prevents the night-before scramble when you suddenly realize an emergency form or transportation document is still unfinished.

Ten Days Before School: Reset Bedtime and Wake-Up Time

Summer bedtimes naturally become later in our house. The boys know they do not have to wake up for school, evenings feel more relaxed, and it becomes very easy for everyone to stay awake longer.

Trying to switch from a relaxed summer schedule to an early school morning overnight usually leaves the whole family tired and emotional.

About ten days before school, I begin moving bedtime and wake-up time about 15 minutes earlier every two nights until we are close to our school schedule.

This does not mean every night suddenly becomes perfect. It simply helps our bodies and routines move in the right direction before the first school morning arrives.

Our school-night bedtime goal is around 8:00 PM, and I wake at 5:30 AM. Because my three older boys share a bedroom, resetting bedtime has to work for the room as a whole. I cannot treat each child’s evening as if he has a completely separate, silent bedroom.

I adjust the entire evening rhythm, not only the official bedtime. Dinner, active play, baths, pajamas, quiet activities, and lights-out all need to gradually move earlier.

A simple school-night wind-down might include:

1. Finish dinner and active play.
2. Take baths or showers.
3. Put on pajamas.
4. Lower the energy in the house.
5. Prepare backpacks and clothes.
6. Brush teeth.
7. Read or talk together.
8. Turn the lights off at a consistent time.

Morning wake-up time matters too. If children continue sleeping very late, asking them to fall asleep much earlier can become a frustrating nightly battle.

I begin waking my boys earlier even when they complain. They do not have to complete a full school morning yet, but they do need time to adjust to being awake earlier.

As bedtime approaches, I also reduce stimulating screens and very active play. Our home is never completely silent with four boys, and I do not expect it to be, but gradually lowering the energy helps everyone understand that the day is ending.

If your children share a bedroom, my realistic bedtime routine for brothers sharing a room explains how we help three boys settle down without expecting them to fall asleep at exactly the same moment.

One Week Before School: Practice the Morning Routine

About one week before school begins, I start practicing parts of our morning routine.

We do not pretend to go to school every day, and I do not make the final week of summer unnecessarily strict. I simply want the boys to remember what needs to happen and in what order.

Our school mornings begin early. I usually wake at 5:30 AM so I have a little time before the boys need me. I check our family command center, finish preparing lunches, and make sure the things we need are where they belong.

I sometimes prepare parts of lunch the night before, but I prefer to finish sandwiches, fruit, and other fresh items in the morning. Practicing before school starts helps me see how much time lunch preparation actually takes rather than assuming I can fit everything into ten minutes.

During your practice week, move through the basic routine:

1. Wake up.
2. Get dressed.
3. Straighten the bedroom or make beds.
4. Use the bathroom and brush teeth.
5. Eat breakfast.
6. Fill water bottles and collect lunches.
7. Check backpacks.
8. Put on shoes.
9. Meet near the door.

The fewer decisions children have to make in the morning, the more smoothly the routine usually goes.

I am naturally tempted to rush when I can see the clock moving faster than everyone else. I am working on slowing the tone of our mornings even when we still need to move quickly.

Repeating “Hurry up” every two minutes usually raises the stress level without making anyone significantly faster.

Instead, I try to give one clear direction at a time:

• “Please finish getting dressed before coming to breakfast.”
• “You have ten minutes before shoes need to be on.”
• “Check your morning list and see what is left.”
• “Backpacks need to be near the door now.”

A visual checklist can reduce how many times you have to repeat the same reminders. Younger children may need pictures, while older elementary children can follow a short written list.

I also try to create a ten-minute buffer before leaving. That buffer absorbs spilled drinks, missing books, bathroom trips, forgotten papers, and shoes that were somehow in the right place five minutes earlier.

For a detailed look at how I organize our mornings, lunches, backpacks, after-school hours, and evenings, read my realistic back-to-school routine for busy moms.

Plan Simple School-Day Breakfasts

The first week of school is not the time I want to experiment with complicated breakfasts.

I choose a few familiar options that are quick to serve and that my children are reasonably likely to eat.

Our breakfast rotation may include:

• Yogurt with fruit
• Eggs with toast
• Oatmeal
• Cereal with fruit
• Toast with a familiar topping
• A simple smoothie
• Mini pancakes or waffles prepared ahead
• Cheese, fruit, and toast

Choose three to five breakfasts and make sure the ingredients are available before school starts.

Older children can also take responsibility for simple tasks such as getting bowls, filling water cups, putting dishes in the sink, or choosing between two available breakfast options.

The goal is not to create a beautiful breakfast every morning. The goal is to feed everyone without adding another complicated decision to an already full routine.

Finish School Shopping Without Overbuying

Back-to-school shopping becomes expensive very quickly, especially when you are buying for more than one child.

It is easy to assume that every backpack, lunchbox, water bottle, pencil case, pair of shoes, and school supply needs to be replaced before the new year begins.

Before shopping, I check what we already have.

Some supplies may only need to be washed, sharpened, relabeled, or moved back into the school area.

Check Last Year’s Supplies

Look through:

• Backpacks
• Pencil cases
• Lunchboxes
• Water bottles
• Folders
• Notebooks
• Headphones
• Art supplies
• Extra pencils and erasers
• School clothes and shoes

Throw away broken items, but keep anything that still works.

Follow the School’s List

Use the supply list provided by the school or teacher whenever possible.

General online lists can be helpful for planning, but the teacher’s actual list should come first. Buying everything before receiving the school requirements may leave you with products your child does not need.

Buy Essentials First

Prioritize what your child needs for the first day. Optional organizers, extra classroom supplies, and large backup packs can wait.

Let Children Choose One or Two Items

Children do not need control over the entire shopping trip, but choosing a backpack, folder, pencil case, or water bottle can make the transition feel more exciting.

Keep Extra Supplies at Home

Avoid putting every pencil, eraser, glue stick, and notebook into the backpack at once.

Keep backup supplies in one labeled container at home. When something runs out during the year, you will know where to find a replacement.

Before ordering anything else, use my back-to-school shopping list by grade to see what students are most likely to need and what can wait until the teacher confirms it.

Label Everything That Leaves the House

With several children carrying similar water bottles, lunchboxes, jackets, pencils, and school supplies, labeling saves a surprising amount of frustration.

Label:

• Backpacks
• Lunchboxes
• Water bottles
• Jackets and hoodies
• Pencil cases
• Headphones
• Sports bags
• Reusable food containers
• Classroom supplies when requested

Use your child’s full name only when appropriate for the item and school environment. For items visible in public, you may prefer initials or another identification method your family is comfortable using.

I also take a quick picture of important school gear. If something goes missing, having a photo makes it much easier to describe.

Create One Back-to-School Command Center

With several children leaving the house, I cannot rely on remembering everything in my head.

Our family command center gives school papers, reminders, and weekly plans one visible home.

A command center does not have to be a large, expensive wall system. It can be one small area near the entryway, in the kitchen, or anywhere your family naturally passes during the morning and evening.

The most useful command center includes a place for:

• The family calendar
• Backpacks
• Lunchboxes
• School papers
• Shoes
• Water bottles
• Permission slips
• Weekly reminders
• A last-minute checklist

Start by choosing one consistent place for backpacks.

Wall hooks are helpful when you have space, but a bench, basket, shelf, or row of sturdy bins can work too. The important part is that every child knows where his belongings go when he comes home.

Give each child an individual space when possible. Labeling hooks, baskets, trays, or shelves reduces arguments and makes it easier to see who forgot to put something away.

Keep lunchboxes and water bottles close enough to the kitchen that they can be emptied, washed, dried, and repacked without disappearing around the house.

School papers also need one landing place. Without a tray or folder, permission slips and teacher notes seem to vanish almost immediately.

Our family calendar is the part I check most often. I update it in the evening and review it in the morning before everyone leaves.

Add a short checklist near the door:

• Backpack
• Lunchbox
• Water bottle
• Homework
• School folder
• Jacket
• Library book
• Sports bag

The command center will not prevent every forgotten item. It simply removes some of the pressure from your memory.

Before buying a completely new organization system, look at what you already have. A few hooks, a basket, a paper tray, and a calendar may be enough.

Prepare Lunches and After-School Snacks

Packing lunches becomes much easier when I stop expecting myself to create a completely different meal every day.

My boys are often happier with familiar foods they know they will eat, and I am happier when I can prepare lunch without turning the morning into a cooking project.

I use a combination of evening preparation and morning finishing.

At night, I may:

• Wash lunch containers.
• Portion crackers or dry snacks.
• Prepare reusable snack bags.
• Wash fruit.
• Check that we have enough bread and lunch ingredients.
• Place clean lunchboxes where I can reach them.
• Freeze water bottles or cold packs when needed.

In the morning, I finish sandwiches, sliced fruit, yogurt, and other foods I prefer to pack fresh.

I also use a small rotation instead of inventing five completely different lunches every week.

A realistic lunch rotation might include:

• Sandwiches or roll-ups
• Pasta salad
• A snack-style bento lunch
• Mini pizzas or quesadillas
• Breakfast for lunch
• Leftovers that pack well

Repeating lunch ideas is not a failure. If your child eats the food and the meal works for your family, it deserves a place in the rotation.

For more inspiration, try these easy healthy lunchbox ideas kids will actually eat.

Children can be extremely hungry after school, especially during the first few weeks when they are adjusting to longer, more structured days.

I create a simple snack area with foods the boys can recognize and help prepare.

Depending on your family, that may include:

• Crackers
• Pretzels
• Fruit cups
• Applesauce
• Dried fruit
• Granola bars
• Reusable containers for fresh snacks

Keep refrigerated choices such as yogurt, cheese, fruit, or vegetables in one visible section of the refrigerator.

My older boys can help check and refill the snack area. It gives them some responsibility and helps us notice when we are running low before everything disappears.

Set Up a Simple Homework Area

A homework area does not need to look like a miniature classroom.

Children mainly need a consistent place where they can sit, find their supplies, and complete schoolwork without searching through the house every few minutes.

In our home, the most helpful part is not having a perfect desk. It is keeping the regularly used supplies in one place.

Your homework area may include:

• A table, desk, or consistent section of the kitchen counter
• A comfortable chair
• Pencils and erasers
• Colored pencils or crayons
• Scissors and glue
• A ruler
• A supply caddy
• A timer
• A charging spot
• A tray for completed papers
• Headphones or a quieter work option

A portable supply caddy works especially well in a small home because children can work at the kitchen table and the supplies can be put away afterward.

Keep the supplies manageable. A container overflowing with dried markers, broken crayons, and random papers makes it harder to find what your child needs.

A timer can help a child who feels overwhelmed by getting started. Instead of focusing on the entire assignment, begin with a short work period and reassess from there.

The homework area should also include a place for completed work. Papers are less likely to disappear when children know that finished assignments go directly into a folder, paper tray, or backpack.

If a child needs quiet while younger siblings are nearby, headphones, a folding divider, or a temporary alternative work spot may help.

My guide to creating a homework station that keeps the chaos away has more practical ideas for using the space you already have.

Back-to-School Products That Can Make the Routine Easier

You do not need to buy an entirely new home-organization system to prepare for school.

I recommend starting with your routine and adding products only when they solve a specific problem your family is actually experiencing.

A Label Maker for School Supplies

A label maker can be useful when you are organizing supplies for several children or labeling lunch containers, pencil cases, water bottles, folders, and storage bins.

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A Weekly Clothes Organizer

If choosing outfits creates arguments or delays every morning, preparing clothes for the week may remove one more decision from your routine.

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A Family Digital Calendar

A paper calendar works perfectly well for many families. However, a larger digital family calendar may be useful for households managing several school schedules, appointments, sports, activities, and reminders.

This is a higher-priced product, so I would only consider it if your current calendar system is not working.

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A Sunrise Alarm Clock

Children who find dark early mornings difficult may benefit from having a gradual light cue as part of their wake-up routine.

This particular option is a higher-priced combination light, clock, and sound machine, so compare it with simpler alarm clocks before deciding what your family needs.

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A Portable Homework Supply Caddy

A portable caddy helps keep pencils, scissors, crayons, glue, and other homework supplies together without requiring a permanent desk.

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An Adjustable Kids’ Desk

A separate desk is optional, not essential. The kitchen table may work perfectly for your child.

For families who have the space and want a dedicated work surface, an adjustable children’s desk is one higher-ticket option to consider.

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You can find more of my current school, organization, lunch-packing, and family favorites in my storefront.

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Please choose only the products that solve a real problem in your home. A basket, paper calendar, or container you already own may work just as well.

Three Days Before School: Pack the Backpacks

A few days before school, begin putting the essential items into each backpack.

Do not wait until the night before to open packages, label supplies, and discover that something is missing.

Depending on the teacher’s instructions, you may need:

• Labeled school supplies
• Folders or notebooks
• Headphones
• A change of clothes for younger children
• A school ID or transportation card
• Completed paperwork
• Emergency information
• A water bottle
• Lunch gear
• Sports or activity items

Keep the backpack reasonably light. Extra supplies can stay in your labeled backup bin until they are needed.

Ask your child to practice opening and closing the backpack, lunchbox, containers, and water bottle independently. A product can look perfect at home but become frustrating if a younger child cannot open it without help.

Place the packed backpacks in the command center instead of moving them around the house.

The Night Before School: Keep It Simple

The night before school is not the time to complete every unfinished summer project, cook an elaborate dinner, or reorganize the entire house.

Our priority is making the next morning easier.

Use this simple checklist:

• Check the school calendar.
• Confirm drop-off and pickup plans.
• Pack backpacks.
• Sign remaining paperwork.
• Lay out clothes, socks, and shoes.
• Prepare lunch components.
• Wash and fill water bottles when appropriate.
• Place cold packs in the freezer.
• Prepare an easy breakfast.
• Charge required devices.
• Set alarms.
• Begin the bedtime routine early.

I also try to avoid creating too much pressure around the first day.

Children do not need to hear repeated reminders about how important the new school year is. They need a calm evening, clear information, and the feeling that the adults around them have a plan.

Take a first-day photo if your family enjoys that tradition, but prepare the sign, clothing, and photo location before the morning begins. It should not become another reason everyone is late.

The First Morning of School

On the first morning, follow the routine you practiced instead of adding several new expectations.

Wake children with enough time to move gradually. Serve a familiar breakfast. Give one instruction at a time, and use the checklist instead of repeating every task from memory.

Expect something small to go wrong.

Someone may dislike the outfit chosen the night before. A water bottle may leak. A child may suddenly feel nervous. The toddler may need attention at the worst possible moment.

That does not mean your preparation failed.

The purpose of preparation is not to prevent every problem. It is to create enough structure that one small problem does not derail the entire morning.

Try to keep your goodbye warm and confident. A long, uncertain goodbye can sometimes make separation harder. Follow your school’s drop-off procedure, reassure your child that you will see him later, and allow the teacher or staff member to guide the transition.

You may feel emotional too. Back-to-school season is a major adjustment for moms, especially when a child is beginning a new grade, entering a new school, or becoming more independent.

Feeling sad, relieved, proud, nervous, or excited does not make you a bad mom. It makes you a mom moving through another change with her children.

What to Expect During the First Week of School

The first week can feel exciting in the morning and completely exhausting by late afternoon.

Even children who are happy to return may become irritable, clingy, emotional, or unusually tired after school. They are adjusting to earlier mornings, classroom expectations, social situations, schoolwork, and having much less control over their day.

Try not to fill the first week with unnecessary evening commitments.

When possible:

• Keep dinners simple.
• Reduce extra errands.
• Protect bedtime.
• Check folders every day.
• Add school dates to the calendar immediately.
• Keep breakfast and lunch familiar.
• Prepare tomorrow before the evening becomes too late.
• Give children time to eat and decompress.
• Adjust routines based on what is genuinely causing stress.

Our planned routine almost always needs a few changes after the first real school days. The schedule that looked perfect during summer may not match the reality of homework, activities, transportation, and tired children.

That is normal. A routine is a tool, not a rule that your family has failed if it needs to change.

On days when your child comes home full of energy, try one of these fun after-school activities for kids.

Ask Better After-School Questions

Instead of only asking, “How was school?” try questions that are easier to answer.

Ask:

• What was the easiest part of your day?
• What felt difficult?
• What made you laugh?
• Who did you spend time with?
• Was there a moment when you needed help?
• What did you do during lunch or recess?
• What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
• Is there anything you want me to know?

Some children want to talk immediately. Others need a snack, movement, quiet play, or time alone before they are ready.

You do not need to force a conversation at the school door. Keep showing that you are available, and listen when your child chooses to talk.

If the same concern continues coming up, contact the teacher rather than waiting for the situation to become larger. Approaching the teacher with curiosity and specific information usually creates a more productive conversation than beginning with blame or assumptions.

Common Back-to-School Mistakes to Avoid

Changing Everything Overnight

Children are more likely to resist when bedtime, wake-up time, screen expectations, chores, meals, and responsibilities all change in one day.

Start with the routines that will make the biggest difference.

Overbuying School Products

A beautiful organizer will not solve a routine that has not been clearly taught.

Use what you have first and buy additional products only when they address a real problem.

Packing the Schedule Too Tightly

A morning schedule with no buffer can fall apart because of one missing shoe.

Leave a few extra minutes wherever your family struggles most.

Expecting Children to Remember Everything

Children need routines to be taught, practiced, and repeated.

A visual checklist is often more useful than another verbal reminder.

Making the First Week Too Busy

Children may need more rest and connection during the transition. Keep optional commitments lighter when possible.

Expecting Perfection From Yourself

You may still forget something. Your child may still cry. Breakfast may be cereal. A backpack may contain the wrong folder.

None of those things means you failed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Kids Ready for Back to School

When should I start getting my child ready for school?

I recommend beginning about two weeks before school starts. That gives you enough time to adjust sleep gradually, talk about feelings, check supplies, and practice the morning routine without turning the final days of summer into a strict schedule.

What if school starts in less than a week?

Do not try to complete everything at once.

Focus on the essentials:

1. Confirm school information.
2. Begin adjusting bedtime and wake-up time.
3. Finish required shopping and paperwork.
4. Pack backpacks.
5. Prepare clothes, breakfasts, and lunches.
6. Practice the basic morning order.
7. Give your child space to talk about concerns.

How do I help a child who is nervous about going back to school?

Listen before trying to fix the feeling.

Ask what specifically feels difficult, validate the concern, and help your child understand what will happen. Reviewing the school day, visiting the building, talking about pickup, and preparing a few simple coping ideas can make the situation feel more manageable.

Contact the teacher or school when your child has a specific concern that needs support.

How can I reset my child’s sleep schedule?

Begin moving bedtime and wake-up time earlier in small steps instead of expecting an immediate change.

Adjust the entire evening routine, including dinner, baths, quiet activities, and lights-out. Waking earlier in the morning also helps the family move closer to the school schedule.

How can I make school mornings less stressful?

Prepare what you can the night before, keep breakfast choices simple, give every school item a consistent home, use a visual checklist, and create a small time buffer before leaving.

My back-to-school routine for busy moms includes a complete morning, after-school, and evening schedule.

What should I prepare the night before school?

Pack backpacks, check papers, lay out clothes and shoes, prepare lunch components, place cold packs in the freezer, confirm transportation, charge devices, and set alarms.

The less your family has to find and decide in the morning, the easier it is to handle unexpected problems.

What if my child has a difficult first day?

One difficult day does not predict the entire school year.

Give your child time to decompress, listen to what happened, and help solve the specific problem. Contact the teacher when the issue needs classroom support, but allow everyone some time to learn the new routine.

Download Your Free Back-to-School Checklist

You do not have to remember every school supply, form, lunch task, and first-week responsibility on your own.

My free printable Back-to-School Checklist for Moms includes:

• School supplies
• Clothes and shoes
• Important paperwork
• Morning-routine preparation
• Lunch and snack preparation
• Homework-station essentials
• One-week-before-school tasks
• Night-before-school reminders

Get the free Back-to-School Checklist for Moms here.

Keep it on your refrigerator or family command center and check off one section at a time.

Final Thoughts: A Calm Start Does Not Require a Perfect Mom

Getting kids ready for back to school is not about creating a picture-perfect first morning.

It is about helping your family move from the freedom of summer into a routine that feels familiar, manageable, and supportive.

As a mom of four boys, I still have mornings when someone cannot find a sock, a child remembers an important paper at the last minute, and my toddler decides he needs me while I am finishing lunches.

The difference is that we have a basic rhythm to return to.

The backpacks have a home. The boys know the order of their morning tasks. I know what can be prepared at night and what I prefer to finish in the morning. Our family calendar holds the information I cannot keep in my head.

Start with the parts of your day that create the most stress. You do not need to overhaul your entire family life before the first bell rings.

A few small systems, practiced consistently, can help your children walk into the new school year feeling more prepared, and help you begin it feeling less overwhelmed.