School is back in session! Explore different topics, such as coping with back-to-school anxieties and emotions, creating daily routines, and tackling common situations that arise with the start of school. Ease the transition with some fun lunch box or after school snacks and downtime activities.
Try these printable checklists and planner to get in the back to school mindset:
Back-to-School Checklist
Get back to school ready with this checklist!
First Week of School Planner
Let's plan the first week of school!
Learn-at-Home Checklist
Get ready for learning at home with this checklist!
Creating Daily Routines for Kids
Consistent routines provide comfort and a sense of safety to young children. Following a schedule each day makes children feel safer and happier, which often leads to better behavior and cooperation. When they know what to expect, and what’s expected of them, kids feel more comfortable and confident about what lies ahead. Just click below for tips and activities to get back into a solid daily routine.
Creating Daily Routines for Kids
Consistent routines provide comfort and a sense of safety to young children. Here are ideas, charts, and tips for getting into a good daily routine with your family.
Getting Ready for the First Day of School
Getting ready for the first day of school can fill children (and grown-ups!) with both excitement and nervousness. Read on for tips and activities to prepare before that first day. And share with your child these PBS KIDS games all about going back to school!
Setting Goals for a New School Year
A new school year is a great time to set new goals, just like a new year! Here are some easy ideas for creating new school year resolutions and ways to make them stick.
How to Prepare Your Child for a New School
Whether your child is changing schools, getting a new teacher, or simply switching from a summer routine to a school year routine, school changes can bring out a lot of emotions for grown-ups and kids! Here are 10 ways to ease the transition.
How to Handle a Tough First Day of School
Kids bring so many emotions to the first week of school: excitement and fear, wonder and worry. So when something goes wrong, it can feel overwhelming. Here are four ways you can help kids navigate heading back to school.
“You Are Brave and Kind”: Helping Your Child Get Ready for the First Day of School
The first day of school is a transition, and transitions — even good ones — create stress. Here are some strategies to help your child get ready for kindergarten.
Three Ways to Help Your Child Build Better Friendships
From modeling friendship to helping children to understand how to invite and include others, parents play an essential role in helping children to build relationships with others.
Practice SUPER Morning and Bedtime Routines
20 min activityTry these simple morning and bedtime routines with your child to help them navigate daily transitions as they wake up and go to sleep.
Easing Anxiety About Going Back to School
It’s perfectly natural for even the most enthusiastic young learner to feel nervous and uncertain. A new school year comes with a new classroom, a new teacher, and new classmates. The classroom rules and routines are likely to change, as are the behavioral and academic expectations. It’s a lot to manage when you’re young. Here are some ways you can help manage some of that back-to-school anxiety with your child.
How to Cope With Back-to-School Anxiety
Consistency and routines are always a great place to start when it comes to squashing those back-to-school worries! Try some of these strategies to help your child ease into the school year.
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” Songs to Manage Feelings
The next time a meltdown arises, try one of these short and simple "Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood" songs to help your preschooler manage and ease those big feelings.
How to Cope With After-School Meltdowns
Help kids cope with the overwhelming emotions that develop at the end of the school day by changing their after-school routine.
What if...I Fail? Teaching Your Kids It's OK to Fail
In learning and exploring, we’re all going to face challenges. Instead of resisting challenges or new things out of fear of failure, encourage your kids to embrace them. Here are four ways to work through failure with your kids.
Five Ways to Beat Back-to-School Jitters
It’s perfectly natural for even the most enthusiastic child to feel nervous and uncertain. Take these steps to help your child prepare for a new school year.
Helping Preschoolers Cope With Separation Anxiety
As you prepare to drop your child off at preschool, try these strategies to help your child cope with separation anxiety.
Lunch Box and After School Snacks
Make Pinkalicious Pink Lemonade
30 min activityHelp your child practice measuring and mixing as you follow this fruity recipe for a perfectly sweet and Pinkalicious pink lemonade.
Create Cute Veggie Snails
30 min activityYour child will have a blast turning veggies into creatures. Cute veggie snails are fun to make — and to eat!
Spiced Oatmeal Muffins
30 min activityIt seems like everyone in Qyah loves spiced oatmeal muffins! This hearty and healthy snack will power your child’s daily adventures.
Heart Apple Chips
90 min activityYummy! A crunchy, sweet Valentine’s Day treat that will make a lovely gift for someone special.
Make Piragua to Share With a Friend!
90 min activityThis frozen snack is a real crowd-pleaser and a fun way to give your child the opportunity to experiment with flavor and create their own treat!
Lunchbox Notes
Print and pack these fun notes in your child's school lunchbox.
Fun After School Activities
Creature Power Adventure Games
30 min activityLeap like a frog, burrow like a gopher! Your child can activate their creature powers just like the Wild Kratts in these exciting obstacle course games.
DIY Fun Time Spinners
15 min activitySometimes parents need children to play quietly while they work or take a break. Create a Fun Time Spinner with activities your child can do alone. Make a second spinner filled with family-friendly activities you can do as a family after work or on the weekends.
Learn to Hoof Dance With Donkey Hodie
25 min activityThis family dancing activity is a great way to have fun and incorporate physical movement into your day! Sing along with Donkey Hodie and Grampy as you learn the steps with your child.
Make a Lucky Mini Unicorn for the First Day of School
30 min activityHelp your child make their own lucky mini unicorn to support them on the first day of school, or any day.
Make a Back to School Time Capsule
Encourage your child to create a time capsule of artifacts and goals for the new school year.
Sesame Street Pencil Toppers
20 min activityMake the back-to-school season a bit more fun with DIY Sesame Street pencil toppers.