The BEST Back to School Checklist For Parents | Everything You Need To Know!

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This back to school checklist for parents covers everything you’ll need to get done before the first day of school!

Hi friends,

Are you thinking about the first day of school yet? Surprisingly, you may want to be!

There’s a lot of planning and preparing that goes into making the first day back to school go by smooth and perfectly. Honestly, it can all become extremely stressful for us parents – but it doesn’t need to be!

With our ultimate back to school checklist for parents, this will be the easiest back to school season of your life! Let’s get into it!

The Ultimate Back to School Checklist For Parents

Two months before:

1. Schedule doctor appointments

It’s best to get all the required physicals and health forms taken care of early. Call and set up appointments with your child’s primary care provider, eye doctor and dentist if necessary.

Typically you’ll only need your child’s immunization records, a physical exam and a sports physical (if they plan to enroll in after school sports).

For kids entering kindergarten, an eye exam and dental screening may also be required. It’s always best to check your school policies on their website to be sure!

2. Sign up for after school care, activities and sports

It’s always best to reach out to your child’s school early on to have a better chance of securing a spot in certain programs.

3. Set up haircut appointments

I know it sounds a bit crazy but hear me out, places get booked fast! You don’t want to wait until a week before school when all the local kids cut places are being slammed to schedule haircuts.

This is especially important if you have a go-to hair person for your kids and only want to see them.

Six weeks before:

4. Go through your kids closet

Now’s the perfect time to get a head start on going through kids closet. Set aside time to sort through what’s too small, what’s worn down and what can be donated.

5. Take inventory of what to buy

While you’re there, take inventory of what you need to stock up on. Things such as socks, underwear, hole-free jeans, etc. will likely need to be things you’ll want to replace before the school year.

One month before:

6. Shop for required school supplies

Stores like Walmart and Target start rolling out school supplies right after the 4th of July. Be on the lookout for sales as early as the second week of July.

Don’t make the mistake of waiting. These supplies tend to go FAST.

You don’t want to be the mom with the kids having a meltdown because they can’t find the exact notebook they were hoping for. (Psst! Aka me last year)

7. Purchase backpacks, lunchboxes & water bottles

While you’re there, it’s a good time to grab back to school essentials like backpacks and lunch boxes too.

If you don’t want to deal with the crowd for even a second longer though, you can always check out Amazon and other online stores.

We got this backpack last year and it held up so well. It’s absolutely adorable too!

Cute and durable backpack!

You can also check out all of our lunch box must haves here. It’s all of the lunch box essentials you’ll need to make the cutest lunches!

8. Get everything organized

Now is the perfect time to start getting organized for the school year ahead!

If you don’t already have one, consider setting up a homework station. Creating a craft cart like this and setting it up in a quiet corner with a desk is the perfect spot for little ones to get their school work done.

Another smart move is to put together a family command center! This is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, a section where everyone in the family can know what’s going on.

Family command centers often include a large calendar, hooks for backpacks/jackets, a whiteboard for notes and a file for important letters that need to be signed, etc.

Two weeks before:

9. Throw a back to school bash

This isn’t really a must but.. it’s a must!

I highly encourage everyone to attend or throw a back to school bash. It may not seem like a must-do but getting your kids pumped for a new school year is more important than you may realize.

You don’t need to throw some massive party, even just a mini back to school bash with only your kids at home is enough. I promise, you won’t regret it!

10. Start adjusting bedtimes

At around two weeks before the first day of school you’ll want to start getting back on a better bedtime routine.

I know this can difficult especially when the summer nights are still bright well until 9pm. I suggest ordering some black out curtains or window blinds like this to help make this transition easier.

Blackout Window Roller Shades

11. Make or buy a back to school gift for the teacher

It’s one of our back to school traditions for us to get the teacher a small, but sweet gift for the first day of school.

Put this on your to-do list for the next time you’re out shopping. Last year I completely blanked and was rushing to think of something two days before school.

Two weeks is just enough time to plan something while still having time to go out and purchase whatever you need for it!

One week before:

12. Load up on non-perishable snacks

This is the time where I hit up my local Sams club and purchase all of our staple snacks, frozen breakfast items and lunch sides in bulk. We grab plenty of veggie straws, pirates booty, goldfish, snapea crisps, etc.

We’ve found buying in bulk saves us so much money. We spend about $100 on bulk snack type foods at the beginning of each month and we usually still have overflow for into the next month as well.

13. Have a lunch trail run

If you have a kindergartener going into school for the first time, I highly suggest doing a lunch trail run before the first day of school.

Make sure they’re able to open their lunchbox on their own and know what to throw away and what not to throw away. It’s also a good idea to set a timer to get them used to understanding they only have so much time to eat.

This also creates the perfect opportunity to go over general lunch manners too!

14. Make a back to school countdown

Another one of our back to school traditions is making a simple paper chain back to school countdown!

Starting about 10-7 days before the first day of school creates the perfect paper chain length and gives the kiddos something to look forward to!

Weekend before:

15. Grocery shop for lunches

Don’t forget to plan and pick up all of your lunch essentials for the week!

16. Have kids plan out their outfits for the week

This is one of the best school morning hacks!

Have your little ones get into the habit of planning their outfits for the week on Sunday. This takes out any guess work in the morning.

Check out this post for the best school morning routine hacks that will put hectic mornings to end!

17. Get backpacks loaded and ready

Gather all of your kids school supplies and get everything packed and ready for the first day of school!

18. Go over after school procedures

Make sure your little one knows if they’re going to be a bus rider or a car rider.

If your little one is going to be a bus rider, make sure they know where their bus stop is and how to get home from there. Go over safety rules like not talking to anyone or trusting anyone who says they’ve been sent to pick them up. This is a great chance to also set up a safety word!

Night before:

19. Pack a first day lunch

We’ve had a nice long break from making lunches but it’s time get back to it!

I suggest making lunches the night before so that it’s one less thing you’re rushing to do in the morning.

20. Read a back to school book

We love to read a back to school book the night before the first day of school! It’s definitely a must-do!

“The Day You Begin” is a great book for kids going back to school or just starting school for the first time!

The Day You Begin

21. Get your first day photo props ready

Don’t forget to set up your letter board, chalk board or print off your first day of school signs!

Still looking for the perfect back to school photo idea? Check out this post for some adorable ideas!

22. Put everything by the door

Make sure you have a smooth first day morning by placing everything by the front door or in their backpack stations!

Be sure you have backpacks, socks/shoes and the teacher gift right by the front door so you don’t forget anything.

Having an organized area for backpack storage at home is honestly the best idea of all. This will make sure everyone knows where school stuff goes and that it’s all in one nice and neat go-to area!

23. Set your alarms

The most dreaded part of the first day of school.. Setting your alarms extra early so that you have plenty of time.

Don’t forget to set your kids alarms as well!

First day of school:

24. Take photos

The best part of the first day of school? Those adorable back to school photos that flood all of our feeds!

25. Have them fill out a first day of school interview

After they come home from their first day back to school, have them fill out an interview. These make the best keepsakes!

We have a free first and last day of school questionnaire printable.. Check it out here!

26. Enjoy the day!

Finally, the last thing on our back to school checklist for parents? Enjoy the day!

With all the hustle and bustle back to school season brings, don’t forget to slow down and enjoy it!

We only get 12 first days of school.. Seems like a lot but we all know how fast they actually go by. Take it all in, the craziness, the cute faces, the stories. All of it.

This back to school checklist for parents will take all of the stress out of getting ready for the big day. We want you to be able to really soak it all in without worrying that you forgot something or didn’t do something. I know this checklist will be extremely helpful!