Back to School

Ultimate Checklist for a Stress-Free Back to School

12 January 20267 min read

A school backpack, lunchbox and stationery arranged beside a checklist

The Back to School season can feel like a whirlwind for busy parents: scrambling to find last minute items, standing in long queues and then having to still label everything and cover all your child’s books whilst at the same time managing everyone’s emotions.

So, in order to be prepped and ready for that first day back, here are some key checklists to help create calm and turn a busy, emotional transition into a set of small, manageable steps for both parents and children.

1. Stationery / School Supplies Checklist

Plan this early! This will really help you stay ahead of the rush…

As soon as you get your stationery list from the school, send it to Prepped 4 Prep for a quote. Remember to remove those items you already have and won’t need for the new school year so you don’t double up and spend unnecessary money.
Place your orders early so you can get your stationery well in time of the deadline. Remember that our value added services of printing labels, labelling and book covering take time and the deadline cut off is before Christmas so get your orders in soonest to avoid disappointment.
Make sure you take advantage of our labelling service. Labelling school items is essential to keep your child’s belongings safe and to prevent you having to spend more money replacing lost items. By allowing us to label all your scholastic items for you, you get to spend more time with your children during the holidays.
And don’t miss out on our Book Covering Service as well. We have a full range of coloured paper book covers along with heavy duty plastic covers that make your child’s books both look good and stay protected.

A labelled school stationery set with covered books, pencils and supplies

A complete labelled stationery order arranged beside its school box

If you are doing your stationery shopping yourself, make sure that you don’t make the following common mistakes:

Ensure you buy the correct books. There are many different types of books with different lines, page numbers and formats. Specific books are required for certain grades so don’t purchase incorrectly as this will be a costly mistake.
Cheap stationery wears out fast and more than likely will have to be replaced midway through the year. Also, schools specifically request certain brands due to the fact that they are good quality and long lasting so bear that in mind when you make your purchase.

2. Uniform and Clothing Checklist

Well before school starts, make sure everything fits and is ready:

School shirts, trousers, skirts or dresses
Jerseys, jackets or blazers
Socks and shoes
Sports kit
Hair accessories, if needed
Raincoat or umbrella
School Bag / Sports Bag / Cooler Bag / Lunch Bag / Water Bottle

This is also a good time to polish shoes, repair buttons, and set aside a few complete outfits for the first week.

It is essential that you plan ahead and make sure you have all your uniform items clearly labelled. Prepped 4 Prep has an amazing clothing solution for all your needs – from iron on labels to clothing stamps to shoe labels and bag tags. Get your order in before year end so you have time to get all your uniforms neatly labelled for that first day back and to avoid those unnecessary trips to lost property…

Personalised shoe labels displayed with two pairs of school shoes

3. Lunch and Snack Checklist

School mornings are much easier when lunch planning is not left to the last minute.

Choose easy lunchbox options
Stock up on healthy snacks
Wash and prepare fruit
Plan drinks or refillable water bottles
Check school rules around nuts, sweets or packaged foods
Create a simple weekly lunch plan - Even a loose plan can save a lot of morning stress.

4. Routine Checklist

Children often need time to adjust after holidays. A few days before school starts, ease back into the normal rhythm:

Set earlier bedtimes
Wake up closer to school-day time
Pack bags the night before
Choose clothes before bedtime
Create a morning routine
Set homework or reading time
Limit screen time before bed

Routines help children feel secure because they know what to expect.

Be Prepped and Stress Less

Take the stress out of the back to school season by ticking off each of these checklists and setting small, manageable steps to follow to help bring calm to both you, as parents, as well as your children. This will help families feel more organized, prepared and confident to embrace the first day back, stress-free.

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