Sound Off! How Are You Preparing Your Children for Back-to-School?

With Labor Day looming, children around the country are getting ready for fall’s big event: Going back to school! In just weeks (for some, days), kids around the country will be packing up their book bags and lacing up their sneakers for that fateful first day. So how are you preparing? Do you combat summer “brain drain” with educational lessons? Start making bedtime a bit earlier? Do a little back-to-school shopping at the mall?

Here’s your chance to Sound Off! Tell us how you’re preparing your children to go back to school.

Comments

Mine are back at school (grades 8th, 5th and 4th)and I really think they were ready to go back. We adjusted bedtimes and getting up times about a week before school started (that hurt me too!). I did most of my shopping online for my daughter and new backpacks and the boys wear uniforms so that was easy. I am so stocked up on school supplies that I basically had to shop in my closet to get most everything they needed. It has been a pretty easy transition except they were pretty tired the first week.

- Lorelei on August 18th, 2009

I have 2 school-age children, ages 12 (going into 6th grade) and 7 (2nd grade). We didn’t really adjust things too much for them because their bedtime never changed over the summer. We just bought their school supplies and are planning to push them out the door once school starts this week…

- Jennie on August 18th, 2009

Over the summer, I had my children do ‘schoolwork’ such as math problems, read and do other problems daily. Not for long periods of time, maybe 30 minutes. I also adjust their bedtime a week before they start school so they are used to getting a good night’s sleep. They are involved in picking out their school supplies and making it fun for them.

- mom to boys on August 18th, 2009

We have gone school supplies shopping, which got them excited because they get to pick their back pack, binder, etc. Also I always go in with my children a week before and meet their teacher so they are more comfortable. Bedtime has been enforced a little bit more and we have started getting up a little bit earlier. But when the actual night before comes their will be no bedtime. The night before school I never had a bedtime and neither do my kids. Ive been criticized for it, but I just remember lying awake as a child, the two years I did have a night before bedtime, and anticipating the next day. I would get in so much trouble for not going to sleep. Well once my mom became a teacher and had that same anxiety I no longer got in trouble. So we will go to our Labor Day BBQ, watch a movie and then head for bed. I always tell them they need to be resting, they don’t have to be asleep.

- Micheley on August 18th, 2009

I don’t have children but my brother is going to be 6th grade from 1st September. I think this year the first month his lessons will start from 1:00 pm and least to 6-7 pm. And then the next month from 7:15 am to 12:00-12:30 pm and so on one month at lunch time and one in the morning. So there is every month adjustments especially with his food schedule because he’s diabetic. And for other prepares he gets a 2-3 new outfits and this year my parents are getting for him just notepads and stuff he will use on his art classes. The books this year are free thanks to the government

- ElenaS on August 18th, 2009

Well, here in Greece the school starts on the 11th of September. I have a son who is 9 and will go to the fourth grade and I try to put him in the school mood. i have already bought his backpack, his teacher will provide us the list with what they will need for the year and when we go to buy that list we will take and other school supplies for the house. The only thing I have to do is to arrange his lessons in English and tae kwon do which are done privately.

- fonitsef on August 19th, 2009

We start back next week. I only have one child in school-3rd grade. We go this week to meet his teacher. But, we have already bought supplies and adjusted his bed time. Now all that’s left is buying clothes and shoes.

- Carol on August 19th, 2009