Start off the school year on the right foot! We asked our guest experts, staff members, and favourite mommy bloggers for their best tips to get your kids ready for class.

Tracy Moore:

I try not to veer too off course with bedtimes, lunch and snack times over the summer months — that way the transition for back-to-school is less brutal.

I HATE making lunches. So to make things easy I stick to a simple formula: two mini sandwiches on whole wheat, one piece of fruit, two snacks (usually a cheese string and a box of raisins or individual package of Goldfish), and his water bottle. Done! I always do this the night before. Making lunches in the morning is too daunting to me.

I also take both kids’ clothes out the night before so the morning is less rushed.

Mairlyn Smith: 

My theory has always been to make them responsible for their own lunches at a level that’s appropriate for their age. I started Andrew off really young by getting him to help with the grocery list for lunches. He’d print the words out, and then we would go with his list and we would shop for them. In Grade 1, he would put the food in his lunch kit, get the wrapping paper for his sandwich, etc. Grade 2 he would help get the stuff out for his lunch. By Grade 6, he was mostly making it himself, I would just get his sandwich, wrap, chili, whatever main course sort of thing together. By Grade 9, he was trying to sell his lunch for profit and came up with this idea that we should make a double lunch and he could sell one of them and keep the money. I told him if he made the whole lunch then he could do it. Needless to say, it never happened.

Frank Ferragine:

Top tip: Getting back into bedtime routine! We start early in August. Heck, I have to work on a morning show but the bedtime routine is dinner at 5:30, bath at 6:30, read from 7 to 7:30pm, then lights out. We try to keep this schedule all school year but summer throws it out of whack. Trust me, it’s a fight getting them back into routine!

Nanny Robina:

Get the kids to make their own lunch the night before, they will eat more and enjoy more.

Turn snack time into learning time. Use colours and numbers, such as: “Go get a GREEN apple from the fridge. Let’s cut it into 6 pieces. Now you eat one, how many are left?”

Shopping for clothes can be a nightmare! They never want what you want, so be patient and allow a little extra time. Choose together and try to understand your child’s need to choose is also a way of expressing herself. As much as you hate it, you should try to allow her some choices. Don’t try to deter her/him — praise how nice it is, and then show another choice. If she stands her ground and it is not provocative in any way, let it go.

Dr. Karyn Gordon:

Tip #1 – Focus on Habits: Try to think about all the things to you have to get done (making bed, making lunches, homework, signing forms for school) and figure out the best time to do these things! By creating habits, you are saving time and emotional energy which you can then invest into things you really love!

Tip #2: Don’t Overschedule: Especially at the beginning of the year, be cautious not to schedule in too many activities. Focus on the ones you really love! Instead, create a schedule or calendar that allows room for relaxation! When we have more downtime it not only makes us happier, but our mood and communication abilities improve!

Tenille Lafontaine (Cityline Featured Blogger):

1. Set a budget and stick to it. Shop with cash; no debit card and no credit cards, if you can avoid it. When you use cash you actually see the money leave your hands and see how much you have left in your budget. You’re much more likely to stick to your planned budget if you’re using cash.

2. Shop alone! Nothing will take you off-budget and off-task faster than an argument with a 9-year-old on why she needs a particular binder or extra items not on the school supply list. Let your kids pick their favourite character backpack or lunch kit, but for standard school supplies, it’s best to shop alone and stick to the supply list.

3. Shop online for back-to-school clothing. Many stores offer online shopping now, and some even offer free shipping (and free returns!). You can sometimes find some great online codes (either right on the site or sent via email if you sign up for their newsletter) for additional discounts not offered in store. This way you avoid the crowds and can take your time selecting items.

Dr. Joey Shulman:

There are a few things we do for back to school. I know it sounds funny, but in mid-August we do our trip for clothes, pencils, books and haircuts to get this out of the way! I want to avoid the scramble on Labour Day weekend; this makes things a little more calm.

Jonah and I also planned a food calendar to help me identify healthy foods he wants me to pack. We actually walked through the grocery store together so he could point out what he liked to eat. This helps avoid food being thrown out, traded with other kids or coming home uneaten.

My little one (4 years old) is starting full-day school this year (sniff, sniff) so for us, there are a lot of conversations to prep her on what her “new day” will look like (she has never been away for a full day).

Dr. Marjorie Dixon:

This is what we have to do in order to get them school-ready:

1. Three weeks before they head back to the classroom, we start talking about the return to school, meeting new friends, and getting a brand new teacher. That way it becomes something to look forward to and feels like it’s taking a long enough time to happen (sort of like Christmas)!

2. We do 1 hour of “tricky work” daily throughout the summer. It can be reading or math…whatever! It helps them not to forget what they’ve acquired from the previous year, and makes them feel confident that they have a good grasp of things as they move on to new and different concepts.

3. Finally, I make sure that I’m there for everyone’s first day back and keep a light work schedule for the first week at school. I work A LOT, but I know that the first week can be tough, so a little extra “Momma time” really works wonders for building the confidence to get through these transitions!

4. We hit the CNE as our last fun summertime tradition. It’s part of our ritual and my kids are all about routines, so we can’t miss it! It’s also tons of fun for grown-ups so it’s a win-win!

If the kids feel like they’re ready, life is so much easier for everyone. So with that ultimate goal in mind, I/we try to build confidence through “anticipatory guidance”; isn’t life all about mind over matter?

Caroline Fernandez (Cityline Featured Blogger):

1. Have younger kids “practice school lunch”. Pack lunch containers as you normally would on any school day and have kids “practice” opening and closing the containers. This is a good way to see if the thermos will stump your kid or not.

2.  Set up a “home” for all the paperwork which comes home, for each child, from school (it can be a magazine holder, a basket or a bin). This way, kids come home from school and the first thing they do is put their homework, field trip forms, pizza day schedule, or library book in the School Paper Work Home. It is a good routine and organizational tool, and it helps teach kids to keep track of their own stuff.

Desiree Fawn (Cityline Featured Blogger):

My daughter starts school for the first time this September, but I do have a tip for preparing her for something new! Talk to your kids about any anxieties they might have when it comes to their first day of school. My daughter was worried they wouldn’t have a bathroom, and that she wouldn’t know what her teacher looks like. It’s helpful to get your little ones talking about their fears. They may seem tiny to us, but they’re easily diffused with a quick chat!

Carolyn Graham (Cityline‘s health & family producer and director):

Take a picture of your kid on the first day of school every year, in the same location. It is a great way to see the changes year to year. (Plus, they are usually super excited, so you will get a great smile.)

Have a large binder for each child and a 3-ring hole punch in a convenient location. This is a great way to keep track of all the school forms and important notices that come home from school.

Buy school supplies early for the best selection.

Freeze a few dinners to make the first week easier. That way you can spend more time with the kids after school to find out about their day.

Ceri Marsh & Laura Keogh:

At Sweet Potato Chronicles, we love the idea of getting kids involved in the kitchen — and what better meal to put them in charge of than their own lunch. After all, kids are more likely to eat the meal if they feel like they were part of the process. As early as the weekend, let kids suggest things they’d like to eat in the upcoming week for the grocery list. We like to think of a well-balanced lunch bag as having a protein, vegetable, fruit and snack. Then, as part of their nightly routine, let them pick from a protein (things like turkey sandwich, hard boiled eggs), veg (carrot sticks, celery, cucumber slices), fruit (fresh or dried) and snack (seeds, whole grain crackers and hummus, or even a home-baked cookie) for their lunch bags. If you pre-slice a whack of vegetables and have the snacks handy, the kids can help pack them up as you organize the more last-minute items like sandwiches and fruits. In the end, the help takes the pressure off parents and the kids will love being in the driver’s seat.

Kathy Buckworth:

My best “back to school” prep trip is making sure to get them on routine starting the week before school starts. Bedtimes, mealtimes, heck, even the occasional shower! Don’t try to convince them that the first day will be “fun”. It will be the first day, and most kids will have some anxieties. If they do find some fun moments, it’s a win. Ask them if they’re worried about anything, and if they say  no, just drop it. Asking them over and over again makes them think there should be something to worry about. If they are taking the school bus, get them on it the first day. Make sure they aren’t late, as walking in last is hard and puts them at a disadvantage. Plan your work back schedule to have everyone ready half an hour before they need to, to allow for last minute clothing changes, forgotten supplies and lunch additions.

Katja Wulfers (Cityline Featured Blogger): 

As the mom of a teen boy, I’ve survived a few back-to-school flops. I’ve been a proactive shopper and admired newly purchased supplies threatening to take over my kitchen counters only to go back to square one when I received official lists. I know better now and wait until after school starts. It’s best to procrastinate.

I’ve bought planners with a cool factor of 10, only to have my son use them twice in 10 months. Instead, I’ve now appealed to the teen brain and introduced him to a phone app. He uses a homework app that allows him to track assignments and deadlines. On his phone. He thinks it’s cool, and he turns in his homework on time. We both win.

But the most important tip any back-to-school parent needs to focus on is simple and doesn’t involve pencil cases or new clothes or buying a lunch box that will survive past the first month. One word: coffee. Make sure your coffee machine is cleaned and prepped and that your cupboard is stocked with your favourite beans because you’re going to need them.

Happy back-to-school everyone!

Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault:

Since my oldest son is headed to “big school” this year (eeek), I have been getting him acquainted with the idea of eating boxed lunches at home on the weekends. I find that the more creative I am with food presentation and packing, the better the chances are that he’ll eat it. For example, I’ve been cutting sandwiches with a fun, shaped cookie cutter, filling plastic Easter eggs with carrot sticks and raisins, and freezing grape and strawberry fruit kabobs so that they’re still nice and cold come lunchtime. I try my best to let him eat without encouragement and it has given me good insight into what he will and will not eat on his own.

Sarah Gunn:

Label everything you send to school with your child. When they lose something, it may save you from having to dig through the lost and found, which smells like dirty old socks.

Tuck notes in your child’s lunchbox. Whether it is a love note, a joke or a quote, it is a sweet way to show you are thinking about them while they are at school. If they are too young to read, draw a simple picture of the two of you doing something fun together.

Karine Ewart:

1. See your family doctor for their annual check-up now, as well as your ear and eye doctors.

2. Attack their closets: Try on clothes, make a list of what they need (not what they want), set a budget, shop!

3. Start making small adjustments to the bedtime so in a week or two they are back on track. (Wake them up early, too!)

4. Label everything!

5. Start stocking the freezer with leftovers so that weekday meals are fast and easy.

6. If backpacks and pencil cases from last year are still in good shape, make a craft project out of them to make them feel new. Use fabric paint or a bedazzler!

7. Start using a lice-protecting spray every day on their hair as well as on their baseball hats, and continue for at least the first month of school.

Susannah Findlay (Cityline Featured Blogger): 

This tip worked really well for me last year: I attached a luggage tag to each of my kids’ school bags that listed which special classes they had each day. That way when they went to pack their bags, they could double-check that they had their running shoes, recorders, music folders, etc. (You can read a full explanation on Susannah’s blog.)

What’s your top tip for getting your kids ready to go back to school? Share your best ideas with us in the comments!