Your Back-to-School Checklist

In just a few weeks, your child or teen will need to be ready to go back to school. We’ve got some information you can use to make sure your child (and you) has everything they need to make the transition as stress-free and as simple as possible.

Stock Up on School Supplies

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Make sure your child or teen has all the necessary supplies they need. Depending on whether they’re starting elementary, middle, or high school, their requirements will be different. See if you missed anything below. And remember to shop for essentials first.

• Notebooks
• Pens/pencils
• Backpack
• Lunch box
• Necessary books

Prep the Week Before

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Don’t forget to plan weekly lunches and after-school snacks. Make a list before you head to the grocery store each school week.

• Start to plan school lunches on Sunday, and try to meal prep for the week to save time and money. (Check out some make-ahead healthy school lunches here.)
• Be sure to make smart choices at the grocery store to keep a healthy, stocked kitchen.
• Plan healthy meals for breakfast. (Try this quick heart-healthy oatmeal or power up pancakes.)

Protect Your Child’s Health

When it’s back-to-school season, it’s a great time to make sure your child’s health is on track. Here are a few tips to make sure your child stays healthy and well throughout the year.

• Check up on vaccines. Schedule a well-child visit with their Primary Care Provider and find out if you child is up to date on the vaccines he or she needs.
• Encourage good hygiene. Remind your child to wash their hands regularly so they can stay germ free.
• Set your child’s bedtime. Before the first day of school, start getting your child to bed 15 minutes earlier each night so they can get used to a new sleep schedule. With sleep and wakeup times, you can help your child get enough sleep to succeed in school.

Find a Routine

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To avoid being overwhelmed when the school year starts, getting yourself and your kids into the school routine a few weeks early might be useful. Below are a few things you can do to make sure the morning goes well when the alarm goes off for the first day of school.

• Get ready for the morning the day before (set the alarm clock, lay out clothes, pack up their backpacks).
• Schedule after-school arrangements ahead of time.
• Make sure your child has the means to get to school if you can’t take him or her.
• Read to your child before bed to encourage reading. This will also help them fall asleep faster.
• Take care of yourself so you can help your child the best you can (get enough sleep, get the right nutrients, and exercise with the kids).

Looking to do more? Check out more back-to-school tips to get ahead this school year.

If you live in New York City, Long Island, or Orange, Sullivan, and Westchester counties and want more information about our health plans, please click here.