Don’t look now, school is just around the corner. The dog days of summer are here: Kids are enjoying lazy days at the pool, sticky popsicles in the heat are a perfect afternoon treat and back-to-school season is on its way. That’s right — whether your kids are ready to head back to the classroom or not, the bell is about to ring, and school is almost in session.

Going back to school is about more than just picking out the perfect first day outfit. It’s about setting a new routine, or getting back into one, and having discussions about jitters, reassuring children that it’s OK to be nervous.

Get started sooner, see earlier success
Former school psychologist and mom of two Dr. Ali Smith believes getting ready earlier leads to greater success and a smoother transition to a new year or a new school. “The supplies list is always kind of the first sign of back to school,” she says. Smith, who works as the supervisor of special education in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, finds that a great way to jumpstart the school excitement is to let children pick out some of their school supplies. “My kids in elementary school take ownership on getting school supplies. They love going out and picking stuff out themselves.”

Smith also recommends starting a predictable routine a few weeks before the first day of school. Dr. Qiana O’Leary, who is affectionately known as Dr. Q, agrees. O’Leary, who has a doctorate in education and is the founder and CEO of Minty Educational Services, also believes in starting school prep sooner than later.

One area O’Leary thinks parents and kids should address more? Sleep. “Based on the research, one of the things I’m finding the most is that kids are lacking sleep, so I think it’s really good to put them on a healthy sleep routine,” she says. “You want to start about two weeks before school starts, so that they are getting the adequate amount of rest after having such a long break,” she continues.

Stretch Your Brain
It isn’t just better sleep O’Leary recommends. “I would say there should be some warming up of the brain,” she says. Like a light stretch before a workout, O’Leary suggests starting with some puzzles and word games, taking care to minimize computer time. “Get that pen to paper, because it helps those fine motor skills, but it also gets the brain thinking really logically on how to critically think and critically compare,” she explains.

Smith agrees about flexing and stretching your little one’s mind. “The learning really shouldn’t stop,” she says. Kids “really should be doing it throughout the summer because it’s a harder transition coming back to the start of the school year when you weren’t doing anything academically related.” Smith recommends reinforcing skills from the previous academic year to keep things fresh and get your kid ready to go.

O’Leary, who has more than two decades in the education field, advises parents to keep things light and fun. “Keep it more playful. Learning is always daunting, and it should be a fun activity,” she says.

Gearing up to get your kids comfortable and excited about learning leads to a smoother transition into the school year and a successful learning atmosphere. The sooner your little one is comfortable in their classroom and school environment, the sooner the learning can kick into high gear. “When they are small, they learn to read and as they get older, they read to learn,” O’Leary says. So, it is important to get children eager and ready for the transition to the classroom as soon as possible.

To get older kids engaged and ready to learn, O’Leary recommends digital breaks, particularly as the summer winds down. “Have a cut off time, maybe 8 [p.m.] or 9 [p.m.], where you no longer can have access to those things so there will be more natural conversations” with older kids.

Communication is the key to success
One of the best ways for your child to have a good academic year is to have a good relationship with their teacher. When working as a school principal, O’Leary would have her teachers ask parents to write a letter letting them know more about their child. “Let them know the child that you’re looking to raise and the goals you have for your child,” she says.

She urges parents to be honest about a child’s strengths as well as their weaknesses and to provide a good way to contact them should the need arise. “If every parent gave their child’s teacher a letter, teachers would feel so appreciative and they would know exactly how to provide individual supports for the betterment of that child,” she continues.

Smith also encourages parents to get involved in their children’s education early. “Communication by the principal is key,” she says. “Some principals are very strong with communication and they give all the details, and then you have some principals that aren’t as good … especially through email or social media.” As both a parent and an educator, Smith insists good communication with the parents is paramount to a successful school year.

As with most things in life, an early start and good preparation go a long way. An organized, well-planned and thoughtful beginning of the school year will set your scholar up for success all year long and beyond.

Katie Schubert grew up in the Mid-Atlantic region and has a young daughter who will start kindergarten in 2026.

Turning the Page on Summer: Banish Those First-Day Butterflies

“The King of Kindergarten” – Derrick Barnes
“The Queen of Kindergarten” – Derrick Barnes
“School’s First Day of School” – Adam Rex
“Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten” – Joseph Slate
“The Crayons Go Back to School” – Drew Daywalt

“New Kid” – Jerry Craft*
“The Crossover” – Kwame Alexander*
“Save Me a Seat” – Sarah Weeks & Gita Varadarajan
“Merci Suárez Changes Gears” – Meg Medina*
*Newbery Award Winner