Back to School Survival Guide

Back to school time is just around the corner for many families across Hampton Roads, and this year our team wants to help you and your family make the first day back a memorable one. We've compiled a list of tried-and-true back-to-school tips and tricks to help ensure that your transition back to school goes smoothly. 

1. Make a Visual Calendar 

Whether your family uses Google calendar or another digital calendar, there is something to be said about using a large slab of paper that is taped up on the fridge to keep track of daily appointments, after-school activities, menus, and schedules. A hard copy of a weekly calendar in an easy-to-spot highly trafficked place in your home can be a definitive reminder for keeping everyone on task and on time. Using this type of calendar can help teach both young and older children responsibility and time management skills.  

2. Resist Screen Time

We understand that you need to check your email when you wake up or maybe prefer having the TV on for background noise while everyone is getting ready for the day, but these are the most common distractions that derail both adults and children in the mornings. Consider turning devices off or email apps closed until everyone is ready for the day. 

3. Slowly Ease Into The School Year

If your children adapted a sleep schedule that isn't ideal for the school year over the summer, consider slowly adjusting their morning and nighttime routines to a more ideal schedule over the course of several weeks, preferably prior to the first day of school. This way, their internal body clocks will have time to adjust naturally before the real wake-up time comes.

4. Prepare the Night Before 

It's understandable that after a long day at work or school, the last thing on anyone's mind is preparing for the next day to come. However, choosing outfits, packing lunches, preparing breakfast, charging devices, and pre-packing book bags and homework in the evening can all contribute to a smooth morning routine that does not feel rushed or chaotic.

To help your morning go by even more smoothly, consider preparing this healthy and hearty breakfast recipe the night before and popping it in the oven in the morning while everyone is getting ready for the day. These can also be made ahead, frozen individually, and popped into the microwave for an easy on-the-go breakfast for those unavoidable chaotic mornings. You can also easily add other ingredients like spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms, bacon, or sausage crumbles. Please feel free to save this image to your phone, or print it off to hang on your fridge! Happy first day of school Hampton Roads!