Back to School Supplies and More: How to Get Your Child Excited About Going Back to School

Arguably, one of the more challenging aspects of child-rearing is getting your kids excited about going back to school. Summertime is indeed a magical season for children: they can stay up late, wake up without an alarm clock, spend all day outside soaking up the sun, and don't have to even think about school for 2-3 months. That's why it's so hard for them to crack a smile when you even mention going back to school. But much like getting your kids to eat vegetables, or take their medicine, you have to do it rather stealthily. Through these clever tactics, you can really get your child excited about going back to school, without them even knowing what you're up to.

-The first and most effective way to get your child excited about the new school season, is to make shopping for back to school supplies a fun adventure. If you have a list of needed supplies from teachers, or composed a general list on your own, try turning the list into a scavenger hunt. A lot of kids hate going shopping for back to school supplies because of that dreaded s-word that's in the phrase—school! By turning the back to school supplies shopping process into a fun adventure, kids' attitudes can really turn around.

-When talking about school, act upbeat and positive. Turn every negative thing your child says about into a positive retort. Many kids who have trouble in school are the ones who dread going back the most. Therefore, you should remind your child that a new school year is a fresh-start. It's another chance to turn it all around and do something great.

-If your child is dreading going back to school because they've recently moved or transferred to a new school, or are starting kindergarten, you should visit the school grounds before the semester starts, so they get a feel for the new environment. If possible, have them meet with their teachers, and may be even see where their classroom is.

-As mentioned earlier, summertime in many families, is a fairly unstructured time. Many kids are used to staying up late and waking up whenever they please, so it can be very hard for them to get back into the swing of things leaving them groggy and cranky in the mornings. With that said, it's generally easier to get them used to their new routine, by easing them into the process a few weeks before school starts. According to pediatricians, kindergarteners need11 hours of sleep. They also recommend that first and second graders get 10-10.5 hours of sleep. Generally, it's hard for children to get excited about going back to school—even if they have the best new back to school supplies—if they're sleep deprived.

-Children love responsibility and feeling grown up. So tell them how proud of them you are for being so grown up, and moving on to the next grade. Maybe you can share some stories about your experiences with that grade and how important it was in your life.