Getting Ahead of Back to School

It’s July! Time for swimming, staying up late, and making s’mores! How is it time to be thinking about going back to school already?! We know districts across Colorado start at different times, and for many kids, a month from now, they will be putting on their backpacks and walking out the door. As caregivers, we can do some things between now and the first day of school that will ensure our future selves will thank us.

Communicate with school staff: Of course, there is the classroom teacher. There is also the school counselor, nurse, dean, and bus driver! There are so many adults that your child could interact with. Do you need to have meds dispensed? Now is the time to consider how that will look, what is required, and who must be part of it. You may need to schedule a doctor’s visit to complete necessary forms. Does your child have some learning needs the teacher(s) should know about? Again, what’s your communication plan around that? Teachers may not be in the building yet, but they will soon. Now is the time to consider what needs to be communicated ahead of the start of school.

Set your family up for success: When school starts, the family schedule often changes in more ways than one. School hours and classwork don’t happen during the summer months. There are usually activities that run primarily during the school year. Both of these things impact mealtimes and bedtimes. Look at all your commitments on one big calendar (Google Calendar is great for this) and determine where adjustments must be made ahead of time. Driving and dinner are significant factors. Regular appointments like therapy, visitations, and basic needs like sleep are also included. Put your must-dos on the calendar first and determine what is extra and can be removed. Don’t forget that activities or quiet time that you need to feel replenished are also necessary. You can block off hours or even days to be free and unscheduled. Again, your school year self will thank you for saying “no” to one more team or commitment now.

Rally the troops: Once you’ve reviewed your schedule and determined the pain points, decide who can help with specific tasks. Could your neighbor cover you to and from school two days a week? Could your sister drive to gymnastics on Thursdays? Could you sign up through the Neighbor Program to receive a meal once a month? And could your church community offer you a break by providing childcare? Identifying where you need help is the first step, who might be able to offer it is the next. People around you love you and likely want to provide practical support. They may not know what you need. Putting out a list of potential tasks to those who have offered may give friends and family options where they feel they best fit. Not everyone wants to make dinner or teach a teenager to drive, but someone might. Articulating your specific needs will help you make that match.
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July is the perfect time to start planning for August. Get ahead of your family’s needs now so that back-to-school is as smooth as it can be—or at least a little bit smoother.

By Alex Kuykendall, Director of Community Engagement