Back to School Checklist

Preparing children to go back to school can be hectic. Here is a back-to-school checklist to make it easier.

Medical

• Schedule immunizations with your child’s pediatrician
• Schedule sports physical exam with your child’s pediatrician
• If your child needs medication at school, get a doctor’s note signed and drop off the medicine with the school nurse

Clothing

• Order uniforms
• Inventory school clothes & shoes and buy as necessary
• Waterproof jackets & umbrella
• Plan outfits for the first week

Sports

• Sign up for sports
• Shoes & cleats if necessary for sport
• Gym attire
• Sports equipment

School Supplies (check to see if the school provides a specific list based on grade)

• Bookbag
• Notebooks
• Folders
• Binders
• Pencils, pencil case & sharpener
• Pens
• Crayons
• Markers
• Highlighter
• Stapler
• Index cards
• Sticky notes
• Hand sanitizer
• Mask (if required by school or suggested by your pediatrician)

Meals

• Lunch box & water bottle
• Organize lunch containers
• Stock up on lunch and snack items
• Add funds to school lunch card or have cash on hand
• Prepare meals ahead of time for busy nights

Organize & Prepare

• Clean out car and add school-related items such as sports equipment
• Set up a homework area
• Create a daily routine and communicate to everyone (wake up, breakfast, leave for school, dinner, homework, bedtime, etc.)
• Create a school calendar with holiday breaks and extracurricular activities
• If riding the bus, be sure to know where and when to wait before and after school
• Schedule haircuts for the week before school
• Two weeks before school implement earlier bedtime
• One week before school start the morning routine

Hopefully, this back-to-school checklist will make the transition from summer to school much easier. Just a reminder to make your pediatrician appointments now so your child is ready for the first day of school.