In the Blink of an Eye,We’re Back to School!
Back to school has a habit of arriving very suddenly. Before the alarm clocks are reset and the morning rush begins again, here are a few things worth getting sorted. A Week or Two Before • Check backpacks, lunchboxes and water bottles are still school-ready • Order any last-minute uniform, clothes or shoes • Label jackets, sweaters, bottles and anything else likely to disappear • Check the school supply list before buying extras you don’t actually need • Add school closures, early dismissals and important dates to your calendar • Confirm after-school classes, activities and pick-up arrangements • Start nudging bedtimes and wake-up times back toward the school routine • Check your child’s Student OMNY card or transportation arrangements • Make sure the school has your current phone number and emergency contacts • Restock the grab-and-go snacks A Few Days Before • Try on the first-day outfit — including the shoes
• Work out breakfast for those first few mornings • Clear a spot for backpacks, coats and school papers • Check the route to school if anything has changed • Charge tablets, laptops and other school devices • Talk through the first day, particularly with younger children or anyone starting a new school • Make one last summer plan before routines officially take over The Night Before • Pack the backpack • Fill the water bottle • Prep lunch or lunch money • Lay out clothes • Check the weather — because September in NYC can be anything • Set the alarm • Put shoes, jackets and bags by the door • Aim for an early-ish night And parents: charge your phone, find your coffee cup and remember that nobody’s first school morning goes completely to plan. You’ve got this.
44 | New York Loves Kids | Family Fall Guide 2026
New York Loves Kids | Family Fall Guide 2026 | 45
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