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Every year around this time, my feed fills up with the same stuff: color-coded school supply lists, “cute first day of school outfit” hauls, labeled lunch containers arranged like a magazine spread. And look, I get it. I’ve bought the label maker too.
But the prep that actually saves my sanity every August has almost nothing to do with pencils and backpacks. Here’s what’s really on my list.
1. Reset the sleep schedule before you need to
Summer bedtime is a lie we all agreed to tell ourselves. If your kid has been going down at 9:30 and waking up whenever, don’t wait until the night before school starts to fix it. Start pulling bedtime back by 15-20 minutes every few days about two weeks out. The first week of school is hard enough without also fighting a sleep-deprived, feral child at 6:45am.
2. Do a supply inventory before you shop
Half of what’s on the school list is probably already in a drawer somewhere from last year. Dig through the leftover bins before you buy anything new. It saves money, and it saves you from standing in the school supply aisle in a cold sweat because everything’s picked over.
3. Talk about the actual transition, not just the shopping
Kids pick up on the excitement around new shoes and backpacks, but the emotional part — new teacher, new classroom, maybe new kids, maybe a friend who’s not in their class this year — that’s the part that actually needs a conversation. Ask specific questions. “What are you nervous about?” gets you further than “Are you excited for school?”
4. Get the logistics nailed down early
Pickup and dropoff plans, after-school care, who’s doing what on which days — figure this out before week one, not during it. If custody, carpools, or other people are involved, confirm it in writing somewhere you can actually find it later. Chaos in week one sets the tone for the whole semester.
5. Build in one buffer day
Whatever your first “back to normal” week looks like, leave one day with nothing scheduled. No practice, no playdate, no errands. Someone will be tired, someone will be cranky, and you’ll want a day where the only job is getting everyone fed and to bed on time.
6. Take care of the paperwork now
Immunization records, emergency contacts, allergy forms, any medication authorizations — do this before the school sends the third reminder email. Future you will be grateful.
None of this is glamorous. There’s no aesthetic flat-lay for “confirmed the pickup schedule” or “had an actual conversation about nerves.” But it’s the stuff that gets us through the first few weeks without everyone falling apart. The cute supplies are nice. This is what actually works.
What’s on your back-to-school prep list? I’m always looking for what I’m missing.
- The Back-to-School Prep List Nobody Tells You About
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- The App That Tells You When Someone’s Wearing Camera Glasses (And Why I Downloaded It Immediately)
- Have You Heard of Miiriya? The App Making It Easy to Shop Black-Owned
- Hot Girls Read — But Nobody Gets to Own That
