As we near the end of the dog days, it’s time to start gearing up for a return to school. The anticipation of a new school year is an exciting time for children, but may come with some apprehension as well. Help your children feel ready and enthusiastic for their school year with these four back-to-school preparations. 

1. Morning routine dress rehearsal 

Let’s face it, the end of summer can come as a shock. Many families relax their routines between June and August, and getting back into the swing of a schedule might require some adjusting.

A week or two before school begins, gently restart any routines that might have fallen by the wayside during the summer. If children have become acclimated to having slower-paced mornings in pajamas, plan a few activities that get them out the door by a certain time. If bedtime routine has been traded for evening pool visits, slowly readjust your family schedule to a school-suitable bedtime. The goal will be to build up to the dress rehearsal during the last week of summer vacation.

Set aside some time to make a draft weekly schedule and morning routine for the school year. Have a family meeting (with dessert!) and give an overview of the schedule and expectations. If you hope that your children will load their backpacks into the car the night before or help pack lunches, explain their duties, and teach them new skills if necessary. 

Once your schedule is complete, select a day during the last week of summer for your dress rehearsal! On dress rehearsal morning, your family will do a complete practice run of a typical weekday morning. From setting alarms for proper wake-up time and preparing their school bags, to getting fully dressed (in uniforms if applicable!) and completing morning chores, this allows everyone to get a feel for a school morning without the stress of the tardy bell. It might even be a good day to take back-to-school pictures! 

With everyone dressed and ready, it’s time for the grand finale! Load up the car or get on your bikes just as if it were a school day. Instead of going to school, however, head to a surprise breakfast or outing! Take some time to discuss the routine and give praise and encouragement for a job well done. 

After the dress rehearsal, determine if any adjustments are needed for a smoother morning and share the changes with your family. And then, take a bow. 

2. Back-to-school family dinner 

One evening close to the start of school, plan a celebratory dinner with your family. Bring out the art supplies to make personalized table settings, and dinner will feel extra special. 

Over a favorite family meal, review the flow of your days and weekly schedules. Have time for everyone to share their hopes and goals, and tell them stories you remember from your own schooldays. Choose a family quote or Bible verse that everyone can memorize in the coming months (it is helpful to come with a few pre-selected options, or just choose one yourself ahead of time!). Reciting the quote or verse together each morning is a great way to ground them in truth as they begin their day. 

At the end of your back-to-school dinner, bless each child and ask the Holy Spirit to guide them in their studies and activities. 

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers a Prayer for Students:

Lord our God,
in your wisdom and love
you surround us with the mysteries of the universe.

Send your Spirit upon these students
and fill them with your wisdom and blessings.
Grant that they may
devote themselves to their studies
and draw ever closer to you,
the source of all knowledge.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.

Another beautiful prayer is the St. Thomas Aquinas Prayer for Students:

Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom! Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance. Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion. This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever. Amen.

3. School supplies surprise

School supplies are a practical necessity, but who says they can’t be fun? While most school supplies might need to check certain boxes, there is always room for something extra to make them smile. Glittery pens, a pencil holder in their favorite color, silly erasers, and a brand-new lunchbox – these are great ways to elevate their back-to-school gear. 

The night before their first day of school, decorate the breakfast area. It can be as simple as setting out the surprise school supplies or going the extra mile and hanging streamers around the house in their school colors. They will come down and feel so celebrated, and ready to take on a new year. 

4. An “I love you” token 

Back-to-school jitters are completely normal. Reassure a nervous child by giving them a token to put in their pocket or school bag. If they feel nervous or homesick, they can touch the token and know that you are thinking about them. A token might be a seashell collected on a beach vacation, a coin with a Bible verse engraved on it, a small crucifix, or a pocket picture frame with a snapshot of your family. Like a note in their lunchbox, this is a small but mighty way to help them feel loved throughout their school day. 

Heading back to school can be a wonderful opportunity to create new memories, pour words of encouragement into your children, and build family culture. With a little bit of creativity and thoughtful planning, you can help your family feel equipped and excited to head back to school.