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4 Ways to Ease The Transition for Back-to-School

By Lindsey Palmer | Redbook – Tue, 19 Jul, 2011 10:52 AM EDT

New friends, new teachers, new routines—making the transition from the lazy days of summer to the school year is chaotic for your kids and for you. Get back into the swing of things with fresh ideas from fellow REDBOOK moms who've been there, done that.

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GET YOUR KIDS PSYCHED!

"Two weeks before school begins, I print up small posters with numbers counting down the days, and my kids help me decorate them. On certain days I have events planned: 14 days to go is school shopping day, 12 days to go is a special craft project, 10 days to go is an outing to the amusement park, eight days to go is a visit to the library to get a book for the school year, and so on. With all the fun anticipation, the kids get increasingly excited for the big day to finally arrive."—Jacqueline Mellor, 44, Casselberry, FL; mother to Brandon, 24, Cameron, 20, and Dylan, 11

"The week leading up to the first day, I help my kids get in the mood by reading books about going back to school. My favorite is First Day Jitters, by Julie Danneberg, which follows a girl as she's getting ready, but we can't see her face. She's really anxious, wondering what it will be like and if people will like her, and at the end we learn the girl is actually a teacher! It just goes to show that everyone gets a bit nervous about the first day of school." —Aviva Patz, 38, Montclair, NJ; mother to Sadie, 6, and Dahlia, 4

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GET YOURSELF READY:

"The start of the school year means having to fill out an infinite number of forms—emergency contacts, PTA sign-up, and medical information. And even though all my kids attend public school, I have to write checks for school photos, supplies, athletic participation, field trips, and more—it's daunting! To handle it, I commit to spending one morning filling out all of the paperwork. I make the process less painful by treating myself to a nice cup of coffee and something sweet, like a muffin or a scone."—Kris Gaustad, 43, Riverside, IL; mother to Kelly, 19, Kayla, 16, and Ava, 4

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"In order to carve the most family time out of each day, I make a conscious effort to be efficient with tasks and chores: I wake up early to make the kids' lunches, I get to work earlier so I can make it home earlier and get dinner prepared at a decent hour. I also run errands during my lunch break so I can head straight home at the end of the day and be with the family. I want my sons to grow up remembering the fun times they had with us throughout their childhood, even if it's just cooking dinner together or lounging around the living room watching movies. Family time is precious."—Unique Vasquez, 24, Tacoma, WA; mother of Jeff, 8, Jonas, 7, and Julias, 5 months

"I get anxious about my son beginning a new grade, so I chat with fellow moms so that we can share our angst, vent, and trade tips. As a single widowed mom, I find it helpful to use other parents as sounding boards. We talk about whether or not our kids should take the bus, how much homework they might get, and who we should talk to at school if our kids have problems. Talking these things out makes me realize that every parent has similar concerns about their kids, and when we share them I often realize that many of them are kind of silly, and I'm able to laugh at myself."—Simma Lieberman, 58, Albany, CA; mother to Avi, 14

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MAKE THE FIRST DAY MEMORABLE:

"I get up early and make a real home-cooked breakfast, and then I pack a special lunch with some little surprise for the kids to find at lunch. And despite increasing protests as they get older, we always snap pictures of them."—Sue George, 50, Lexington, KY; mother to Shannon, 20, Stephanie, 14, and Peter, 11

"For my son's first-day lunch, I cut his sandwich in a funny shape, cover the packaging of the snacks in cool stickers, and include a note from his father and me. In the evening, we all go out to ice cream and share stories from the day. I think it's so important to start off with a positive, excited attitude, because it sets the tone for the rest of the year."—Aubrey Ringleb, 30, Tulsa, OK; mother to Bennett, 3, and Jameson, 4 months

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"I have a tradition with my kids that we always go out to a restaurant of their choice for dinner on their first day of school. It's hard to end vacation, start waking up early, and face the homework, so at least the kids get a fun night out on that first day."—Heather McMenamin, 33, Staten Island, NY; mother to Cherokee, 14, and Jessie, 12

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TEACHERS' TOP TIPS FOR STARTING THE YEAR OFF RIGHT:

Keep in Touch. Parent contact is the key to a child's success, so keep the lines of communication open. "Let us know how to reach you," says Natasha Johns, a fourth-grade teacher in Bedford, IN. "Is e-mail best? Should we never call you at work? We need this info so we can be in touch."

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Bring the Lessons Home. Help your child keep learning when he's at home by creating an environment that reflects the attitude that school is important. "Establish consistent routines—a place to study, a place to keep materials, and a quiet time each evening devoted to schoolwork," says Rice.

Show Some Trust! "Just as you trust the dentist to know how to pull your tooth, realize that we're specialists in educating your child," says Tammy Wawro, a facilitator for new teachers in Cedar Rapids, IA. "So back us up and believe that we're here because we care about your child's success."

Read More: Teachers Top Tips for Kids Going Back to School - Redbook

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