Back to School Ideas for Kids

go shopping for school supplies together

One of the best ways to get them excited about school is by letting them take an active role in preparing for the first day. Make it a fun activity together and build their anticipation.

CREATE A SUPPLY CHECKLIST

Before heading out to shop, create a school supply checklist together. Include essentials like notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, and any specific items requested by their teachers.

LET THEM DECIDE

Give them a sense of ownership and let your child take an active role in choosing items that they can be responsible for and take pride in.

PERSONALIZE THEIR SUPPLIES

From backpacks to lunchboxes, make their school gear extra special by personalizing them with your child’s name. If you’re concerned about privacy, try a fun nickname. Personalized items also help prevent mix-ups and promote a sense of ownership.

review school material from last year

Setting time with your child to look over what they learned from the previous grade level will help them prepare a strong foundation as they start the new year.

ENGAGE THEM WITH EDUCATIONAL GAMES & BOOKS

Refresh their minds with interactive games, brain-teasing puzzles, age-appropriate books and other educational activities to get their brains in gear for seamless school transition.

get organized

Help your child prepare their mind and study space so that they’re ready to handle the demands of school life.

ORGANIZE THEIR BACKPACKS

Guide your child on how to pack their backpack and keep it tidy to promote better focus. Make sure they don’t overpack it so that there’s proper weight distribution.

CREATE A STUDY SPACE

Organize a designated, quiet study area at home that is free from distractions. Stock it with a desk, chair, school supplies, reference books, and any tools they need for completing assignments.

GIVE OLDER KIDS A PLANNER

Introduce your child to the concept of planning by using a daily planner or calendar. Show them how to note down assignments, tests, and extracurricular activities, so that they take ownership of their responsibilities.

CREATE A DAILY ROUTINE

Establishing a daily routine helps kids develop time management skills and fosters a sense of stability. Create a balanced routine that includes study time, playtime, chores, and sufficient rest. Consistency is key to making this routine effective.

set goals

Goal setting is a valuable skill, but it’s also a great motivator by finding inspiration and a reason to work toward something bigger.

SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR

Sit down and talk about their aspirations for the upcoming school year, and set goals together that they feel motivated to achieve. Whether it's improving grades, excelling in a particular subject, or going for the sports team, goals can help them stay focused.

CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENTS

No matter how big or small, a win is something to celebrate. Whether it’s an ‘A’ for great effort, or complete success, remember to stop and acknowledge every accomplishment.

prepare healthy meals for the school year

Here are some simple, nutritious meal ideas to prepare ahead for your little one.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BREAKFAST IDEAS

Start the day right with a hearty, balanced breakfast complete with protein, healthy fats and whole grains. Try one of our delicious recipes: toast 3 ways, mushroom toast, or puffed pancakes with berries.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL LUNCH IDEAS

Pack a variety of healthy and delicious lunch options for your child. For creative ideas beyond the lunchtime sandwich, try these favorites: ginger chicken soup, shrimp poke bowl, margherita pizza.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL DINNER IDEAS

Here are some quick and easy or make-ahead ideas for dinner straight from our kitchen to yours that are fun for kids to eat, delicious and healthy, with a mix of lean proteins and vegetables: veggie flatbread, butternut squash lasagna, chicken parm meatballs.

practice good time management

School-related activities are also opportunities to help teach your child good time management skills.

STUDY & HOMEWORK STRATEGIES

As your child preps for tests and completes homework assignments, help them stay on task by using a chunking method, breaking bigger tasks into smaller chunks and setting time limits to promote consistent habits without getting overwhelmed.

WORK ON TASK PRIORITIZATION

Set deadlines and teach your child how to prioritize tasks. Especially for older kids, they’ll be juggling multiple responsibilities, so knowing how to prioritize will help reduce procrastination.

make back-to-school fun

Remember that you’re empowering your child to thrive on their own, so have fun together and use this time to help them set goals, manage their time and stay engaged. Here’s to a meaningful, memorable year ahead for the whole family.