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It's hard to believe that summer is coming to an end and it's time for our little ones to go back to school. Any other mamas breathing a sigh of relief or is it just me? Kidding, kidding. #NotReally 

Obviously, I’ve enjoyed the freedom of having flexibility in our days (and nights!), but I’m excited to get back into a routine. 

I’ve put together some key advice to ensure that with a little planning, you can make going back to school simple and stress-free.

IMPLEMENT AN EARLIER BEDTIME

Start implementing a new bed time now! If your kids are little night owls getting them to bed at a decent hour is going to be your biggest hurdle. Rather than dive in and introduce a significantly earlier bedtime, consider starting out closer to their usual time and then adjust in 15-minute increments until you are at what you feel is appropriate.

According to theNational Sleep Foundation, preschoolers and school-aged kids should be getting between 9 and 13 hours of sleep per night. With a wake time of 7am, you can look at setting your little one’s new bedtime at 8:30pm.

BE EXCITED ABOUT BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON

Going back to school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for your child. Try to make it a point to model your own behavior after what you want to see in your kids. You can do this by "talking-up" school every chance you get and explaining all the fun things your children will be doing: like seeing old friends, making new ones, learning new skills, playing during recess, having fun in art class, reading new books, and even riding the school bus is something for them to look forward to!

Most schools host an Open House the week before the first day, so this can be a great opportunity to allow your children to feed off the other kids' excitement while familiarizing themselves with their teachers and classrooms. 

You can also check out ourback-to-school collection for more fun ways to get your child excited for back-to-school season.

GO SCHOOL SHOPPING EARLY

Another way to get your kids excited about school is by going shopping for all the necessary supplies. Choosing their favorite backpacks will be at the top of your list, but in reality they will most likely have fun crossing off all the items on their supply list.

You’ve probably already gotten much of your school shopping done, but if you’re looking for something cute and unique for you little one to ensure their backpack doesn’t get mixed up with anyone else’s then consider snagging one ofSTT’s personalized zipper charms.

You can also grab a couple ofSTT’s wooden coat hooks that your children can pop their backpacks on when they get home from school. This will cause #NoNeedToPanic in the mornings because you know exactly where the bookbag is.

As the lazy days of summer slip away, I hope the three tips I’ve shared today make the transition a bit easier for you and your little ones. Embrace that now is the time to put away the corner lemonade stands and prepare for going back to school!

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