Back to school: Five tips for families, local school first days

Summer vacation is winding down, and soon kids will trade flip-flops and bathing suits for sneakers and backpacks as families swap slow mornings and days in the sun for earlier alarms, packed lunches and school-day routines.

After more than two months of relaxed summer days, getting back into the swing of the school year can take some time. A little preparation, however, can help make the transition easier for both parents and kids.

1. Get back into a routine

Waking up late on summer mornings is great, but they can make the first early-morning alarm of the school year feel even harder. Start easing kids back into their school-year sleep schedule a week or two before classes begin, including earlier bedtimes and wake-up times.

Shannon Crawford, who has taught second grade at St. Joseph Regional School in Somers Point for 25 years, agrees that getting back into a routine before the first day can make the transition easier.

As a parent, Crawford followed a similar routine with her own children, getting them to bed by 8 p.m. and waking them at 7 a.m., or earlier depending on their school’s start time.

As a teacher, Crawford said she can see the struggle in transition with her students after months lacking schedules.

“They’re usually very tired because they’re not used to that structure. So if they get enough sleep and they get a good breakfast, you’re already starting them off on the right foot,” Crawford said. “[One of the most common mistakes] is thinking it’s still summer and staying up till 10 p.m. and [thinking] they’ll adjust. They won’t. They’re going to be falling asleep in school, and they’re going to be irritable. And it’s just not a good way to start off.”

2. Get organized before the first day

Avoid the back-to-school scramble by getting supplies, backpacks, clothes and other essentials ready ahead of time. Once supplies are purchased, have kids help organize their backpacks and school materials so they know where everything belongs before the first morning.

As a parent, Crawford made sure to get her children’s supplies together before the first day, but as a teacher, she sees students who struggle because their parents didn’t do that.

“A kid that comes in that’s already maybe a little nervous will be really nervous if they don’t have what they need. So start getting their supplies ready, their backpacks ready, put them in a special spot in the house. So you know where their lunch is going to go, or who’s responsible for picking the snacks out, that type of thing,” she said. “I see kids that come in unprepared, and I just feel bad for them, especially if they’re a little nervous that first week of school.”

Crawford also said laying out outfits the night before will help with getting ready.

3. Talk about the year ahead

Whether they’re excited, nervous or somewhere in between, kids may have plenty of thoughts about returning to school. Take some time to talk about what they’re looking forward to, what they may be worried about and what they can expect during the first few days. Ask what they’re excited about, what they’re nervous about and what questions they have. For younger children especially, talking through what the first day might look like — from meeting a new teacher to finding their classroom — can make the unknown feel less intimidating.

4. Re-establish healthy habits

Summer schedules can make it easy for healthy routines, like eating meals at the same time and limiting screen time, to slip. As school approaches, get kids back to regular mealtimes and less screen time before bed to help them feel rested and ready to learn. Each healthier habit will help the transition be as smooth as possible.

“You want them to be well rested, well fed. It’s just it makes all the difference. Make sure they have their snacks. Make sure they have their supplies, and they’re ready to go,” Crawford said.

Another way to re-establish a school-year routine is to make reading part of the evening again.

Crawford said she wishes parents would read to their kids, not just for mandatory summer reading, but for pleasure. She said it’s not just a way to be ready for school, but it’ll also help them with life as a whole.

“Have books at your home. Surround your kids with books. It’s the single best thing you can do to get your child ready for school academically in all the subject areas,” she said.

5. Give everyone time to adjust

The first week back doesn’t have to be perfect. Between new schedules, homework, activities and early mornings, it can take time for the whole family to settle into a routine. It can feel like going from 0 to 100 with everything starting back up, for kids and parents alike.

Be patient with yourself and your kids and give everyone some time to find their rhythm.

Don’t expect everything to fall into place immediately. The first week can be a trial-and-error period as families figure out new wake-up times, transportation, homework schedules and extracurricular activities.

With a little preparation, families can make the transition from summer to school a bit easier. And with the first day arriving earlier than usual for some local students this year, it helps to know when that transition officially begins.

Local schools’ first day for the 2026-27 school year: