Surviving the Back-to-School Season: A Parent’s Guide

With a little preparation, a sense of humor, and a lot of deep breaths, you can successfully navigate this season. Here are some tips to help parents start the new school year!

Get Your Supports in Place

It’s time to create (or re-engage) your support system. Consider reaching out to fellow parents, setting up a carpool, or coordinating with your partner to divide and conquer. Communicating with your child’s teacher about any special needs or adjustments can make the first few weeks go smoother. If you can afford help around the house, consider hiring someone to babysit (date night anyone?), or to deep clean twice a month, or a food service to prepare meals. If you can’t, consider having a set menu so you don’t have to think about what to make for dinner every night. Taco Tuesday is a not just delicious, it helps you save brain space by taking away a decision.

Find Some Self-Care Time

Carve out time for yourself, even if it’s just ten minutes of peace before everyone wakes up. Remember, self-care doesn’t have to take a lot of time. It can be as simple as enjoying a cup of coffee or reading a book without interruption. If you prioritize your well-being, you will be a better parent!

Hand Off Instead of Doubling Up

If you are a in two-parent home, consider handing off parenting responsibilities sometimes to help create that time for self-care. Too often parents double up during stressful parenting situations not leaving anyone to step in and provide a break. Another benefit of being able to hand off is that it also help you have the patience to model appropriate emotional regulation (meeting your child’s chaos with calmness).

Quality, Not Quantity: Undivided Attention

Fifteen minutes of undivided attention when you are reunited with your child can go a long way towards having a peaceful evening. Pack a small snack for pick-up and hold off dinner for 20 minutes while you reconnect. What does undivided attention look like? Your eyes on them (put your phone in a different room) and chatting or engaging in something they want to do.

Do As Much as You Can the Night Before

Think of your evening routine as your critical first step for a smooth morning. Lay out clothes, pack lunches, and make sure backpacks are ready to go. Better yet, get your kids to help you do this and start building their organizational skills. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could even set out breakfast items. By doing as much as possible the night before, you’re setting everyone up to have a relaxing start of their day.

Calendars and Checklists: Your New Best Friends

Create a family calendar that includes school events, extracurricular activities, and important dates. Checklists for daily tasks can keep everyone on track and reduce the risk of forgotten homework or lost permission slips. Not only will these things help you, but they are also good modeling for your child! If one parent is doing more child wrangling (transportation, keeping up with doc appointments, checking homework), make sure the other parent picks up some extra chores around the house.

Maintain a Consistent Routine

Kids thrive on predictability, and a consistent daily schedule helps everyone stay happy, especially during transition times. Whether it’s a set bedtime, a morning checklist, or a regular family dinner time, routines create a sense of stability and security. Try to establish a rhythm that works for your family and stick with it. Consistency doesn’t mean rigidity—allow for some flexibility when needed—but having a general framework in place will help everyone function better.

Don’t Pass It On

Be mindful of your own anxiety level and try not to let it seep into your interactions with your kids. If you feel your stress levels rising, take a few deep breaths or a quick timeout.

What if things are already off to a rocky start? It isn’t too late. Tell your kids that you weren’t as prepared as you needed to be and so you are going to put some routines in place next week. Being clear on your expectations will help them succeed.

Good luck and if you have any back-to-school tips to share, please put them in the comments!