Back to school: organising the first week

In late August, “back to school” is one of the most searched queries, with very practical variants: supply lists, timetables, holiday dates, financial support. Beyond the logistics, the question that comes up at home is simpler: how do you stop the first week turning into a race? Here is a four-step method.

Step one, a week ahead: reset sleep. Moving bedtime and wake-up fifteen minutes earlier each day is far more effective than an abrupt change the night before, which mostly produces a sleepless night. Sleep specialists point out that morning light is the strongest signal for the internal clock: breakfast by a window or a ten-minute walk outside beats an extra alarm.

Step two: prepare the kit without overloading. The school’s list is the reference; buying beyond it usually just makes the bag heavier. What matters is elsewhere: that each child knows where their things are. A fixed spot for the school bag, a dedicated folder for documents to sign and a named water bottle prevent much of the morning chaos.

Step three: set the rules on screens before summer habits carry into the school year. A clear schedule, discussed as a family rather than imposed, holds up better than a ban improvised on a tired evening. The most frequently recommended measure remains the simplest: phones out of the bedroom at night, for everyone, adults included.

Step four: deliberately lighten the first week. Don’t pile up after-school activities, medical appointments and invitations in the first few days, plan simple meals prepared in advance, and keep a calm moment in the evening for everyone to talk about their day. It is often there, in a low-stakes conversation, that real adjustment difficulties show up.

A few signals deserve attention beyond the normal tiredness of the first days: repeated stomach aches in the morning, refusing to go to class, badly disrupted sleep, sudden loss of interest in favourite activities. Raising them early with the teacher or the school nurse stops the situation from settling in.

Also think about the paperwork that can be dealt with in one go and then forgotten: school insurance, signing up for meals and transport, permission slips, any support applications, and updating emergency contacts.

Finally, remember that the new school year is also a moment for adults: new timetables, commutes, childcare, reorganised work. Planning your own week — shopping, schedule, realistic travel times — is probably the best way to make the children’s week calmer.