Over the summer, our schedules tend to slow down a bit. For those with kids, it’s nice to know that you don’t have to get up early and rush out the door, but after a few months of sleeping in and staying in pajamas until lunchtime, it’s easy for kids (and adults!) to get thrown off a normal routine. Now that we’ve reached mid-August, it’s important to start making some changes to get yourself and your kids into a back-to-school routine so the whole family has an easier time adjusting to the school schedule. Not sure where to start? No problem. We have a few tips we think will help you out. Check them out now!

Tip #1 – Set an Alarm Clock

One of the best ways to get yourself back on schedule is ensuring you wake up at a normal “get ready for school” time in the morning. Over the next few weeks, set both your and your kids’ alarm clocks a littler earlier so you can ease into a normal back-to-school wake up time. As you begin to wake up earlier each day, you should naturally be tired and want to go to bed earlier each night. After a few weeks of following this routine, it will be no problem for your kids to get up in the morning in time to catch the bus. Tip: If you or your kids are having a hard time going to bed earlier at night, try reading a book, taking a hot bath, or doing a puzzle 30 minutes before bed. These types of activities are helpful for settling the body down so you can get a good night’s sleep.

Tip #2 – Brush Up on Your Skills

It’s easy for a child’s spelling, math, and reading skills to deteriorate over the summer months—especially if your children have done nothing but enjoy playtime, cartoons, and video games. There’s nothing wrong with taking a brain break during the summer. But, before school begins, it’s a good idea to brush up on a few of the skills you learned during the previous school year. You can find educational workbooks on just about any subject at any bookstore or online. Order a few age-appropriate workbooks and have your child do a page or two in the evening.

Tip #3 – Make a School Lunch List

There’s nothing worse than putting the effort into packing your kid’s lunch only to hear your child say, “Ew, I don’t like PB&J sandwiches anymore!” as you’re walking out the door. To avoid this problem, it’s a good idea to sit down with your children and make a list of the foods your kids enjoy. Having their favorite lunchmeat, fruit, and snack on hand will easily take the drama out of packing lunches in the morning. If you want to be super prepared, stock up on your kid’s favorite non-perishable lunchbox favorites, like juice boxes, pretzels, or raisins, before school even begins. This way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting important lunchbox items. Tip: If you have younger kids, spend some time before school teaching your kid how to pack his/her own lunchbox. Once he/she becomes a pro packer, this will save you time in the morning.

Tip #4 – Plan School Outfits in Advance

If your kid is a fashionista, you know how time-consuming it can be for him/her to pick the perfect outfit in the morning. To avoid this problem, have your kid lay out an outfit the night before school. Or, if you have small children, you can lay your kiddos’ outfits out ahead of time so you don’t have to rush and do it in the morning. This makes getting ready for school a breeze in the morning. Tip: Watch the weather together the night before school. This will help your kid pick out an outfit that is appropriate for warm weather, cold weather, rain, or sun.

Tip #5 – Purchase Back-to-School Items Early

Most schools will send out a list of school supplies your kid needs to purchase for personal use in the classroom. To avoid the headaches of last-minute shopping, plan a day when you are still on summer vacation to get your shopping done. Doing your shopping ahead of time will help reduce the stress of having to do last-minute shopping and will also help ensure your kid gets prime pick of all the supplies before it gets picked over by all the other kids. It may also even help get your kid excited to head back to school. If you have a little extra in your back-to-school budget, consider donating some supplies to your kid’s classroom. Some teachers provide lists of items they need. If they don’t, dry erase markers, tissues, pencils, and markers are always useful.

Do you have any tips for easing back into a school routine? Share them in the comments below!