Back-to-school season hits differently than any other seasonal shift. We switch from sunny days and swimming pools to a new grade, new teacher, new backpack overnight. There’s always a logistical rush to get supplies and outfits, find classrooms and wrap up late summer nights.
Here are our tips to make back to school feel less like a scramble and more like a fresh start.
Do your homework
Create a visual countdown. Give kids something concrete instead of an abstract date: Craft a paper chain, mark off days on a chalkboard, or let the kids add stickers to a simple calendar. Whatever you choose, a countdown builds anticipation in a positive way and gives younger kids a sense of control.
Take an inventory. Before any back-to-school shopping, do a pass through closets, drawers and backpacks. Kids grow fast (some things probably won’t fit … OK, most things) and some supplies from last spring might have some use left. An inventory helps to avoid duplicate purchases.
Meal prep breakfasts. Freeze a big batch of breakfast burritos, morning muffins or egg bites the weekend before school starts. Having something to quickly reheat makes the first few weeks calmer and keeps kids’ attention on class and not rumbling bellies.
Beat the bell
Pediatricians advise getting kids involved in prepping for back to school and managing expectations by starting a few weeks in advance of the big day.
Build a simple morning routine. Expect things to be a bit bumpy if you wait until the first day of school to get everyone up, dressed, fed and out the door by 7:10 a.m. Starting a week before, wake-up times should get earlier in 15-minute increments. Practice the full morning: wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, grab backpacks and be ready to go.
Foster independence. It’s faster to pour the kids’ cereal or tie their shoes yourself. But let younger kids practice unzipping a backpack, peeling a cheese stick, buttoning their sweaters. Older kids can pack their own lunches, set alarms and work through a morning checklist. A little patience now saves you time and frustration down the road.
Manage feelings. It isn’t realistic to expect every day to run like clockwork. Set expectations for kids by explaining what’s coming up and asking about their feelings. Remember, it’s a change for you, too. Give yourself extra time to work through the unexpected.
Honor roll
Reinforce routines by engaging the senses. Scent is tied directly to memory. Who doesn’t think of a classroom after sharpening a pencil or opening a fresh box of crayons? You’ve had the experience of a certain aroma bringing back moments from decades past. Use fragrance to mark the transition back to school and give the season an identity all its own.
Warm a morning fragrance. Give the kitchen a consistent, calming backdrop during daily prep.
Switch scent profiles. As summer winds down, move from sunny, zippy fragrances to something cozy and soothing, like apple or pumpkin.
Stay fresh on the go. Keep something portable near the front door, close to the jumble of ripe gym bags, backpacks and sneakers, and give fabrics a spritz of Scentsy’s Travel Spray.
Whiff it up. Scentsy’s August Whiff Box is full of fall scents and back-to-class nostalgia. You’ll find a Scentsy Air Solo, plenty of comforting apple-centric fragrances and an adorable mushroom pal for book bags and backpacks.
Back to school will always come with a little chaos. But a countdown chart, a stocked freezer and the right scent waiting by the door can turn a scramble into harmony. Grab the August Whiff Box while fall scents are still on the shelf, and give the new school year a scent of its own.
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