Three weeks before school starts:

Find last year’s backpack and gym clothes
Clean and/or replace. See www.landsend.com for backpacks.

Check shoes/sneakers/cleats to make sure they still fit.
Clean and/or replace.

Find sweaters, jackets, and raincoats. Make sure they still fit.
Write names on all new items.

Reorganize drawer in kitchen with hair supplies. Replenish as needed.

One to two weeks before school starts:

Go on one or two special outings of children’s choice
Set aside a day or two for complete relaxation;
Only books and television
Set aside a day for their favorite food choices for every meal
Go shopping for a new shirt to wear on the first day of school
Start getting children to bed on time
Make sure summer reading and/or other summer requirements are finished.
Put books/notes in a safe place where they will be remembered.

One week before school starts:

Go grocery shopping for snack items, lunches, favorite breakfast foods,
Brown bags and/or lunch boxes.

Stock up on supplies for homework:
Pencils, pens, highlighters
Markers, crayons, erasers
Lined paper, note cards (many, many)
Ruler, stapler, calculator
Graph paper

Supply list from school – notebooks, spirals, etc….
Homework reminder calendar

If new to the school, visit one morning to become familiar with layout.

Really start getting children to bed on time.

Night before first day of school:

Lay out clothes to wear on first day of school
Make sure backpack is ready to go

Morning of first day of school:

Make favorite breakfast
Wake kids up 15 minutes early since it will take a lot longer the first few days/weeks to get back into a routine!