Begin now to get a head start on back-to-school preparations

The middle of summer might be the last time that children, and even parents, want to think about returning to school. But that is exactly what they should be doing as we near the end of July.

Miami-Dade public school classes begin Aug. 17 — a week earlier than last year — and early preparations put your children in the best position to be ready for the adjustment from summer break to fall classes. (Classes start on Aug. 16 in Broward’s public schools.)

Getting back into school mode can be challenging, which is why it is important for parents to start prepping their kids so that they do not face the first day of school unprepared. Luckily, there are steps parents can take to help make the yearly transition as smooth as possible.

Waking up is hard to do: While there is nothing wrong with letting kids stay up and wake up later during summer break, doing so often means kids struggle when they return to an early morning school schedule. Not only can mornings and bedtime become stressful parenting moments, but kids may go through their first weeks of school being overly tired or lacking the energy they need to do their best if they don’t get at least eight hours of sleep.

Don’t wait until the days just before classes start to change sleep schedules, as that likely won’t be enough time to properly adjust. Start a new bedtime and wake up routine at least two weeks before classes begin. If you want to adjust their wake up and bedtime incrementally, then start even earlier, like now!

Try different practices to help kids fall asleep, which may happen long after they go to bed. For younger children, a lukewarm shower or bath should help get them in sleep mode. It doesn’t hurt to have them engage in physical activity in the late afternoon or even evening to help them get tired. And it is a good idea to limit access to electronic devices at least two hours before they go to sleep – although, admittedly, that may be more difficult to accomplish with older kids and teens.

Eating right, right now! Getting back into a school schedule means a return to school lunches, which is also an adjustment for kids. The time they eat and what they eat may be significantly different than their meal schedule in the summer. If your child brings lunch to school, let them help select the menu to get them engaged in proper nutrition. If they eat school meals, check out the menu at https://dadeschools.nutrislice.com/menu as the school year approaches to coach your child on making good food choices.

Thanks to action taken by the Miami-Dade County School Board in June, the district will participate in the National School Lunch Program and its Community Eligibility Provision that allows most public school students to get free lunch, in addition to the free breakfast that is available for all students. Visit the Miami-Dade County Public Schools website (www.dadeschools.net) for more details coming soon.

A shot in the arm to boost their spirits: Many parents have sent their kids to school to start the new scholastic year only to get a message from administrators informing them that they are not up to date on their vaccinations. In some cases, students are not allowed to return to classes unless they get missing vaccines. Instead of scrambling to get your child vaccinated, make sure they are up to date in July or early August. Check with your pediatrician and take advantage of numerous agencies that offer safe vaccinations. The Children’s Trust funds the University of Miami Mobile Pediatric Clinic that offers free vaccinations to children all over the county, including for COVID-19. Call 305-243-6407 to see the monthly schedule and make an appointment.

After-school resources and more: The school year brings with it many responsibilities for kids and families. Waiting to address them until days or even the week before school can lead to unneeded stress and outright panic. Map out your transportation options if your kids will take a school bus (https://mdcps.mybusplanner.com/TransportationEligibility) and start looking for after-school care and youth enrichment programs as early as possible. Visit www.TheChildrensTrust.org/AfterSchool for programs near you.

The best part of starting your school year preparations early is that there are plenty of resources available. The Children’s Trust is hosting three Family Expo events on July 23 (at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus), July 30 (at Sweet Home Community Campus) and August 6 (at Betty T. Ferguson Community Complex) where parents can get information on after-school programming, child care, arts/sports, STEM, health & wellness, information on special populations, family services, and more.

Trust-funded providers, community partners and other family-focused organizations will have information and giveaways specifically tailored to back-to-school needs. Get all the information and have a fun-filled Saturday with entertainment and activities. Visit www.TheChildrensTrust.org/FamilyExpo for more information.

Also be sure to register for The Parent Academy from Miami-Dade County Public Schools (www.parentacademymiami.com) to get information on the upcoming school year and to sign up for workshops to help parents get the most of out their children’s education.

K. Lori Hanson, Ph.D., chief of research, evaluation and strategic planning at The Children’s Trust, has more than 20 years’ experience assessing critical data and community research regarding the needs of children and families. For more information, visit TheChildrensTrust.org.