We’ve Done Back-to-School Dozens of Times—Here Are the Only 4 Tips You Really Need

Right when you’ve perfected your s’mores recipe and gotten into a good groove with the daily sunscreen routine, that’s when the first back-to-school email hits. It’s true: Many parts of the country are trickling back this week and next, which got us thinking about the truly salient pieces of parenting advice that make the return to the classroom feel smooth vs. scary. (Hey, the logistics of packing a backpack for that first day back are not for the faint of heart.) So, without further ado, the four tips that actually delivered when it comes to making one of the biggest transitions of the year feel a heck of a lot easier—for kid and parent.

Candace Davison, VP of Editorial Content for PureWow and a mom of two, swears by out-the-door checklists, hung by the door—but the trick is to have one for each kid and once for each day of the week. “Beyond remembering the typical backpack, lunch box and water bottle, certain days have after-school activities—swim lessons, ballet, Girl Scouts—so I’ll use a clothespin to stick that day’s index card of ‘need to bring’ items on their backpack, then stick it by the door.” Come morning, before heading out—and together with her kids—she unclips the card for a quick review to be sure all the essentials are packed for the day ahead. “I’m really trying to stop having to make trips back to school midday when things are forgotten this year,” she says.

2. Plan a ‘Dry Pancake Run’

It’s not that you want school to start a day early, but giving your routine a test drive—something PureWow’s executive editor and mom of three, Alexia Dellner, has dubbed the ‘Dry Pancake Run’—can be worth it while still feeling fun. “Summer means lazy mornings, sleeping in, a lack of routine, all those things,” she says. “In order to get back into the swing of things, we do the following: The day before the first day of school, we do a dry run. We wake up at the right time, we pack our bags, we get dressed in school clothes and we walk to the bus stop to be sure we’re there on time. But then, instead of putting our kid on the bus or managing preschool drop-off, we go out for a pancake breakfast as a family. It’s a nice way to kick off the school year, but also a chance to get back into a routine and iron out any kinks.”

3. Schedule Blank Spaces the Same Way You Do Soccer Practice

One of the most daunting parts of back-to-school is the return of feeling overscheduled. That’s why PureWow’s editor-in-chief and mom of two, Jillian Quint, believes in countering the craziness by intentionally scheduling down time. “Our world gets so busy with all the kids’ activities once back to school starts,” she says. “Two sports, gymnastics, art classes, piano…kill me. We make a point to reserve two permanent nights a week that are clear for just our family. It helps us all to feel some calm as we jump into things.”

4. Rely on This 3-Word Ice Breaker to Get Your Kids to Open Up

The overwhelm! The adrenaline! Back to school can feel like the parent Olympics—there’s so much pressure on a singular day. But then, pick up happens and, as you eagerly await a full download, your kids are, well, less than verbose. That’s why I, a mom of two, swear by this three-word question: “How was recess?” According to experts, it’s one of the best ways to get your kid to open up. After all, it’s much more fun to discuss friend-related experiences and interactions than answering standard questions about routine activities and what they learned in school. That said, it can also serve as a conversation gateway to other topics. Save it for the dinner table.