Where did the Summer go? As we get ready for another busy season of school, make sure to slow down and Do These TEN Things with your Kids Before School Starts.
- Get back into routines. Start the earlier bedtimes and wake them up early so they are adjusted. Most kiddos are a bit sleepy the first weeks of school and this helps them be better prepared!
- This one might be the hardest one but limit snack times. We all know how the kids always seem extra hungry during summer but unfortunately most schools don’t allow them to just eat whenever. It’s hard to focus when you’re hungry so cutting back down to a few nutritious snacks plus their main meals will help get them on track.
- Get prepared! Go ahead and let them pack their bags, checking your list as you go to be sure none of the supplies were missed. If you haven’t already picked up the supplies and need help, you can find a local school supply drive where supplies are given out or reach out to your school district for more assistance. Then let your children help label everything and get excited for the new year!
- Take a trip to the bookstore or local library. The bookstore is always fun and gets them excited to dive into reading and I love hearing those little reading skills grow! Grab some math flash cards while you’re out and help them freshen up from the prior year so they are ready to go from the start.
- Talk to your kids! Be open with them about their feelings towards the new year and be there to comfort or help celebrate. This is also a great time to remind your littles to be the best they can be and to be kind to others.
- Put together teacher appreciation gifts! The teachers are already back at school, working so hard to get the rooms ready to welcome our kiddos so a great way to thank them is by prepping a basket! Let your little one add something from their heart: bracelets, artwork, decorated coffee cups full of goodies, etc.
- Take the day to explore somewhere new! Go to an arcade or catch a new movie. There are plenty of super cool indoor play places worth exploring in the area too and lots of great spots to eat that have playgrounds. My kids still love to “park hop” which is where they pick their favorite parks, and we hit them all in one day! Riding the local trains either at Zilker Park or Cedar Rock Railroad are also good ideas to end the summer with, if you haven’t already done so.
- Hit a natural swim spot. Austin has plenty worth exploring from Barton Springs to Lake Travis, McKinney Falls, Hamilton Pool and so many more!
- Have a treat day! Every kid loves an ice cream date, but Candy Stores are also a lot of fun to check out.
- Take a mini road trip! Vacations don’t always have to be far or expensive. There are several places around the ATX that you could even make a day trip out of that will surely give a good story to write about in those journals when they get back!
It’s true what they say, the days are long, but the years really are short so take the time and just enjoy the final weeks of summer together. From all of us here at Austin Moms, we hope you and your littles have a good end of summer break and a great school year! 
What are you doing before school starts?
