Back-to-School Planning Guide Back-to-School Planning Guide Overview Getting Organized Setting Goals Morning Routines School-Day Structure Shopping Lists Choosing a Backpack Homework Schedules Time of Firsts First-Day Rituals First-Day School Signs First-Day Nerves Culturally Affirmative Schools After-School Question Hairstyle Ideas Preschool Checklist Going Back Easing Anxiety Behavior Improvement Making New Friends New Etiquette Supporting Success Detaching from Quarantine Distanced Learning Impact Socializing This Year Perspectives Principals Teachers Parents Kids Therapists Staying Healthy Staying Healthy Nutritious Breakfasts Lunch Ideas Healthy Snacks Brain Breaks Physical Activity By Lauren Levinson Lauren Levinson Lauren has 10+ years experience creating and managing content teams in the family, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle categories. She is Verywell Family's editorial director. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 17, 2021 Print Once upon a time (not so long ago!) going back to school was stressful enough. Now remember, this was a time before mask mandates and remote learning were hot topics. Simply getting organized, dealing with new-class nerves, and starting different routines put pressure on families. In autumn of 2021, millions of families will experience these same feelings while also making critical decisions that will affect their health, safety, and mental wellbeing. Yes, the pandemic instigated by COVID-19 has caused a ripple effect on households. But it does not mean we can’t collectively be enthused for the school year. And perhaps worry about some of the good ole things—like packing nutritious lunches or wondering if your kid will like their classmates. With a fresh year comes opportunities to start over, grow, and make new friends! Here at Verywell Family, we hope to inspire you to celebrate going back to school—no matter if your child is physically going back, remotely going back, or a hybrid of the two. It’s an exciting time to hit milestones and, most importantly, learn about new subjects. We hope to inspire you to celebrate going back to school—no matter if your child is physically going back, remotely going back, or a hybrid of the two. In this comprehensive guide to preparing for the 2021-2022 school year, we’re tackling tough topics, as well as fun ones. We have content around everything from setting goals to choosing a backpack and expert-backed questions to ask your kids at the end of the day. The 14 Best Back-to-School Sales for Fall 2021 If it’s a time of first for your family, document it with a festive photo in front of one of these trendy signs. Or try an Instagram-ready hairstyle, curated by celebrity stylists who are also moms themselves! For those feeling nervous about the school year, we see you. Our experts offer advice on detaching after quarantine life and feeling better about separation anxiety. We also covered the impact of distance learning on children and ways to deal with behavioral problems. Since going back to school can be such a different experience, depending on where you live, we wanted to address this. So we launched a brand-new franchise called Perspectives. In each article, we asked 10 diverse people from around the country for their outlook on the new school year. We interviewed: Principals Teachers Parents Kids Therapists Sharpen those pencils! If we’re sure of one thing, it’s going to be one unique school year. Lauren Levinson Editorial Director, Verywell Family Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit