It’s back to school season in Honeysuckle Hollow! Your Li’l Woodzeez friends are busy loading backpacks with fresh notebooks, planning healthy lunches, and shopping for shoes that are just a li’l too big. Soon, there will be a nip in the air, and all the little critters at the Woodland Schoolhouse will be in for a new year of learning.
There’s lots to do at this exciting time of year! But for many kiddos, back-to-school can be a jittery experience. There’s lots of newness on the horizon, with lots of unknowns to discover.
To help with the transition, the Li’l Woodzeez have come up with an End-of-Summer checklist. With a back-to-school checklist and a summer bucket list, this 2-in-1 printable combines practical prep with A+ summer fun. Because summer isn’t over yet!
Print out the list and discuss each back-to-school to-do with your li’l one and how you’ll achieve them together. Then, dream up a list of things you’d love to do before the summer break is over. Going to the movies, finger painting, or swimming at the pool are all great ideas. The goal for this family activity is to create as many sunny smiles as possible!
Tips for Back-to-School
Whether it’s your kiddo’s 1st, 3rd or 7th year going to school, it’s always a good idea to be prepared. Our summer back-to-school checklist is a great start, but there are many other amazing li’l things you can do for a smooth transition back to school.
Try these strategies for a jitter-free back-to-school season.
- Ease into the school schedule. Change your child’s bedtime gradually over the coming weeks until it meets their regular time. Then, stick to it! You can also add other routines such planning outfits the night before and selecting snacks.
- Pack a Li’l Woodzeez Babeez or other small trinket into your kiddo’s backpack to serve as a reminder that you’re thinking of them during the day.
- Use Li’l Woodzeez, plushies, and other toys to role-play the first day of school. Act out potential scenarios and ask questions so your child is ready for anything.
- Read books about going to school. Stories of other kiddos’ forays into school can make this big transition a little less scary.
- Get your li’l ones involved in the back-to-school shopping. Giving your child the freedom to choose some personal items such as clothing, shoes, and backpacks can give their confidence a real boost.
- Validate your little one’s feelings. Change can be scary, and the first day may be harder than anticipated. Comfort them, listen carefully, and acknowledge their point of view as you give them courage.
- Plan lunches ahead of time. Decide on which meals and snacks you’ll be packing, and get your kiddo involved to ensure that they’ll like their food. When the time comes, sneak in a handwritten note or drawing!
- Create a summer bucket list! Setting fun goals and achieving them is a great way to keep spirits high while you get ready for school.
How to Write a Summer Bucket List
The beauty of a bucket list is that it’s all about you! For this activity, think about which activities your family enjoys most and go from there. Ask your kiddo if there’s anything they’d like to learn about or if there are any art projects they’d like to finish. You can also check your community’s event calendar for anything you won’t want to miss!
Here are some kids’ summer bucket list ideas:
- Participate in a summer festival
- Visit the farmers’ market
- Go to the movies
- Swim at the lake or pool
- Go to a local sports game
- Picnic at the beach
- Play with bubbles
- Read a chapter book
- Go on a summer scavenger hunt
- Bake a pie with freshly picked fruit
- Catch fireflies
- Visit a museum
- Go for a long bike ride
- Host a family barbecue
- Play a favorite board game
The Benefits of Seasonal Bucket Lists
Family bucket lists can keep us focused and remind us of what’s important: having fun together! They encourage us to create happy memories amidst all our everyday to-dos. Plus, checking items off the list can leave you feeling accomplished.
An added bonus for kids bucket lists is that they teach our little ones to set goals and see them through. These are positive actions that leave a lasting impact!
Are you ready for back-to-school? Combining your average back-to-school checklist with a summer bucket list will set you up for success. Your Li’l Woodzeez friends promise that it helps to make August shine even brighter!
Try creating a bucket list for fall, next—with pumpkin patches, leaf peeping, hot apple cider, and Hallowe’en haunts!
