Back To School Prep

Aug 15, 2024 | Uncategorized

  • Purchase necessities
    • Buy school supplies required by your district as well as shoes and clothing if sizing up this year.

 

  • Complete doctor appointments
    • Ensure your child is up to date on sports physicals, required vaccines, and any additional forms that may be needed by the school.
    • This is also a good time for a dental cleaning and updating any prescription eyewear.

 

  • Practice
    • Practice your wake up times and full morning routine to ensure catching the bus on time.
    • If your little one is beginning daycare or preschool, practice potty training.
    • Meal time: Have your child practice opening their food containers (like Tupperware or the seals on their fruit pouches).  School staff is often very willing to assist, but with a cafeteria full of students needing assistance, your child may not have time to get theirs open.  Speaking of timing, have your child practice eating in the designated 20-30 minute time slot they will need to follow at school.

 

  • Plan meals
    • Back to school means back to a hustle and bustle schedule. Meal planning breakfasts and dinners can lessen some of the stress.
    • Create a list of go-to lunches that your child plans with you.
    • Or create stations so they can pack their own. Having a couple of bins available for different food groups allows the child to pack lunch for themselves.  Examples include having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or lunch meat sandwiches prepped in bags inside the freezer, and a dairy bin in the refrigerator for cheese sticks and yogurt with small milk cartons/bottles.  Apples, bananas, and oranges are easy to grab from a counter bin or you can organize small containers or cut and prepped fruit or veggies in the fridge.  If your child knows they can pick one item from each bin, they are able to choose their variety while practicing independence each morning.
    • Review if the school has restrictions on common allergy foods before sending peanut butter crackers for snack time.

 

  • Find and fit the backpack
    • Look for a size appropriate bag with sufficient padding.
    • Emphasize the importance of using both straps instead of just one.
    • Adjust the straps so the backpack is snug to the child’s back and not sagging or pulling on their shoulders.
    • Reach out to our staff to help properly fit your child’s backpack. We are happy to help! PT Services Rehabilitation – Physical Therapy (ptsrehab.com)