Back-to-school always seems to creep up quick. We’ll have three school-agers this Fall – our daughter just beginning her elementary school journey and starting JK. Pass the tissues!
Getting back into school routine mode is never seamless, but there are ways that lessen the stress for all around here, and help us get BTS-ready.
1) Purging apparel
Sorting through the kids’ clothing and donating, handing down or reselling items that no longer fit. This helps us figure out exactly what the kids will need clothes-wise for the coming year, and reselling puts some cash back in our pocket. Online deals are stalked and orders for new gear placed.
2) Basic supplies are purchased
A small supplies shop is done, including basics like pencils, locks, erasers and sharpeners, but not over done, as we know the teachers will send a list of essentials the first week and we’ll probably need to shop again.
3) BTS Health check-ups
As busy as back-to-school is, September is a fresh start and a great time to make sure the kids are not just ready to learn, but their overall health is in check. We try to get eye exams, dental appointments, and an annual check up with our family physician booked before or shortly after the start of the school year. Doctor visits include checking if all the kids are up to date with their vaccinations and where we learned our daughter will require her 4-6 year vaccination this Fall, just as her older brothers did before starting JK.
There’s so much going on as the new school year approaches, but making sure the kids’ vaccinations are up-to-date is always a priority. We know by sticking to the vaccination schedule, we’re protecting them from preventable diseases, helping reduce the incidence of outbreaks in our community and considering their friends and family who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons.
Add this important step to your family’s BTS checklist by checking out the Ontario vaccination schedule at Ontario.ca/ChildhoodVaccines. You can keep track of your children’s immunization appointments to ensure you stay up-to-date.
4) Lunch Prep
Momfession: I don’t love making lunches, and usually end up registering the kids for the hot meals available through the school 3 of the 5 days per week. But we try to make lunch prep more enjoyable by getting the kids involved in lunch ideas and taking them with us to stock up on school-safe, nutritious snacks each of them like.
5) Kid-Friendly Systems
The morning routine is never flawless, but we find setting up systems in advance like backpack & shoe/hat bins in the mudroom, and designating spaces for school notes/agendas/reading logs helps reduce scrambling to find things in the hurried morning period. We also take time to label all their new BTS gear and essentials so things make it back home. And finally, with each child who began JK, we took them to their school ahead of the first day to walk them around the yard and talk about how their mornings upon arrival to school will happen. This helped ease their nerves a bit.
How does your family get BTS-ready?
Disclosure: This post was developed in association with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The opinions of the author are their own.
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