Dad's Guide for Back-to-School
By Jimmy Sliwa
It’s late August and the kids are preparing to go back to school. By default most moms take the lead in back to school planning.
- Shopping for school supplies.
- Registering the children for class.
- Getting immunization records.
It’s quite the to-do list.
But just because your wife takes that lead on back to school prep, DOES NOT mean that you should take a back seat.
Dads can and should get involved with the back-to-school preparations.
I hate to admit it, but I have done a terrible job with this. My son Jayden will begin his first year of school at Fronteras, a Spanish immersion school. He is so excited for school, and both my wife and myself are excited for him to expand his horizons.
I appreciate that my wife has worked so hard lining our little guy up for his big first day.
So far, I have done literally nothing to get my son ready for school :/
And I am a little ashamed, but he hasn’t started school yet. And he hasn’t picked up all his school supplies yet. And he still needs a haircut among other things.
There is still time for me and other dads to step up and help with the back-to-school days. Your kids and your wife will greatly appreciate it.
In this post I will give you a simple guide for helping dads prep the kids for back-to-school.
1. Learn Your Kids School Schedule
The first order of business is to learn your child’s school schedule. This includes the class schedule as well as the bus schedule. This is important because you and your wife will be establishing a routine at the start of the year. You and your wife are a team, and communication begins with being on the same page.
Pro Tip: Be sure to stay up to date on extra-curricular activities and sports.
2. Create a Routine
Long gone is summer break and the spontaneous schedule. It’s time to establish a routine. You don’t want to be unprepared for the first day of school. Now is the perfect time to begin to create a routine with the kiddos. Start getting them to bed at a set time and start setting alarm clocks to wake them up.
3. Get School Supplies Ready
If your kids are heading to school, you should have been given a school supply list. Find this list (you may need to talk to your wife) and take the kids school shopping. Don’t be cheap and buy poor quality. Invest in your kids and have fun gathering school supplies together.
Pro tip: When you have the option, let your kids pick the school supplies. They will have a great time choosing which backpack and school binder they get to have.
4. Learn the Teacher's Name
Many dads don’t even know the name of their kid’s teachers. Your son/daughter’s teacher is going to be a huge influence in their life. It’s critical that you at least learn the teacher’s name. This shows that you have an interest in who is teaching your children. Your kids and wife will know that you are invested in their education simply by learning the teacher’s name.
Pro Tip: If possible, be sure to prioritize parent teacher meetings. Again, this shows that you are invested in your child’s education.
5. Help Pack School Lunches
Packing school lunches and snacks are an endless task throughout the school year. You can be a big help year-round by helping pack the children healthy meals. Don’t leave all the food fixin’ up to your wife. Put forth a little effort and help make some peanut butter sandwiches.
Pro Tip: Be sure to make healthy snacks. As a dad you want to lead by example – start by teaching your kids what a healthy well-balanced lunch should look like.
6. Take Them to Get a Haircut
First impressions matter. You don’t want your kids showing up to school looking like slobs. They are a reflection of you after all. Make it a fun little date and take your kids and yourself to get a haircut to start off the new year. Matching haircuts for the win!
7. Talk to Your Kids About School
There should be an open communication line between you and your kids. A great way to get conversation from the little ones is to talk about their school.
Pro Tip: Go beyond the traditional question of “what did you learn in school today?”
Better questions to ask your kids about school:
“What was the most exciting part of your day?”
“Do you have a best friend at school?”
“What is your favorite subject in school?
“Have you been bullied at school or seen others get bullied?”
Conclusion
Make back-to-school fun.
This is an excellent opportunity to connect with your kids. You are dad and are one of the most influential people in your kid’s life. Help set them up for success by starting off the school year right!
You can do this dad! Your kids and your wife will really appreciate you stepping up this school season.
