As the summer days wind down and the school year approaches, many parents find themselves navigating the excitement and challenges of back-to-school preparation. Who better to offer advice than fellow parents who have mastered the art of the school-year transition? We reached out to local moms in the Sioux Falls Area to gather their tried-and-true tips for making the back-to-school season as smooth and stress-free as possible! 

Hear from three local moms below!

Heading back to school can be difficult. What I have found easiest for our children is a back-to-school routine. This may be easier said than done! Write down a list of things that need to be accomplished in the routine, then figure out how much time things may take, and set a start time for your routine. Another thing I like to do is plan my meals out for the week!  

-Shelbi 

(Neil and Shelbi with children Paisley and Paxton)  Photo courtesy of Jorun Photography.

My best tip to start the school year off right is to go through the school calendar and put any important dates in the calendar before the school year starts. With three busy kids, it helps me make sure I don’t miss anything and is helpful throughout the year as I’m planning my work and family calendars. 

-Natalie Barber 

(James and Natalie with children Ellie, Tate, and Beau) 

My best advice is to take your child school supply shopping with you to create excitement. I know it’s much easier to order everything online, but it’s fun when they get to make some of those decisions on their own! Try to schedule time to eat lunch with your child throughout the school year, too!  

– Alissa

(Luke and Alissa with children Adalyn, Audrey, and Chase) Photo courtesy of Bravo Photograph.