The start of a school year can be a very exciting time in your child’s life. They get to have a fresh start – new teachers, new classmates, new subjects and maybe even a new school entirely.

As parents, I’m sure that you want nothing more than for your child to excel in school. And that success starts at home. While it still may be summer, you should begin to consider how prepared your child is to tackle the new school year.

If you’re looking for a refresher, the Good Hands Advice team has shared its tips to help get your family ready for the back-to-school season.

7 Ways to Prepare Your Child For the Back-to-School Season

1. Get Back Into Your Habits. Over the summer, many parents are more lax when it comes to their child’s bedtime. But, according to the Canadian government, current guidelines recommend 9–11 hours of sleep per night for children ages 5–13 years old, and 8–10 hours of sleep for children 14–17 years old. It might be hard to get back into that habit, so try to spend at least two weeks leading up to the start of the school year to get your child acclimated to their new bedtime routine.
2. Review road safety rules. If you have young children (especially those who regularly take a bus to get to school) be sure to review the rules of the road including learning about street signs, cross only at crosswalks, looking both ways before crossing the street and much more. If you want to consult a guide, the city of Toronto has a great resource.
3. Plan your route. If your child will be starting at a new school (or even moving to another building or classroom), try a practice run in advance to ensure everyone knows where they are going and how long it will take to get there.
4. Get organized. As a new school year begins, there are various extracurricular activities to juggle, including music lessons, sports practices, field trips, and project deadlines, which can quickly become overwhelming. To manage this chaos, a central calendar accessible to all family members can be helpful. This shared calendar keeps everyone informed of upcoming events and changes. However, it is important not to overschedule oneself, as excessive activities can lead to overload and take away from valuable family time.
5. Set up a workspace. If you haven’t already, set up an area of the house that can be dedicated as an area to complete homework. Purchase a desk and ensure that it has all the items to contribute to a successful school year. Avoid adding anything to the desk that may cause a distraction, like a television or a game system. If you have a workspace ready, everyone will be more excited about learning and doing homework (at least for the first few weeks).
6. Go shopping… but don’t overdo it. As September approaches, stores get crowded and selection becomes limited. A survey by the Retail Council of Canada found that 42.9% of respondents shop 2 to 4 weeks before the school year starts. To avoid disappointment, it’s wise to start back to school shopping early. Get essential back to school supplies ahead of time, like backpack, pencils, sharpener, eraser, and new clothes. Teachers may provide a school supplies list during the first week of school.
7. Plan a few lunches in advance. Meal prepping is a popular trend among many Canadians, but while it can be a good way to manage how much you eat, it can also reduce stress. While your kids are preparing for school, prepare a few of their lunches in advance in meal prep containers to ensure that they can easily grab it and go.

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