The short answer: A back to school checklist keeps the last weeks of summer from turning into a scramble.
Our picks for back to school checklist
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Kids Chore Chart
Weekly chore chart, morning and evening routines, chore ideas by age, a sticker reward chart and an allowance tracker.
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Household Binder
Family info, emergency plan, calendars, meals, groceries, cleaning, bills and sitter notes.
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Family Life Admin Bundle
Baby logs, chore charts, pet records, meal plans and family recipes in one tidy set.
This page has a free two-page printable: a checklist by timeline on page one and a morning and after-school routine on page two. Below, you'll find what to do two weeks out, what to buy and how to reset routines.
Get the free download now, or read on for the full plan.
What's in the free back to school checklist
- Page one: two weeks before, school supplies, clothes and gear, and the week before.
- Page two: a morning routine, an after-school routine, important contacts and key dates.
Print one copy for each child, because grade and school can change the list a lot.
Two to three weeks before school
- Check the school supply list. Most schools post one on their website. It beats any generic list.
- Confirm transportation. Find bus stop times or plan the drop-off and pick-up routine.
- Book checkups. Schools often ask for updated health forms. The CDC's immunization schedule shows which vaccines are recommended at each age.
- Fill out forms. Emergency contacts, health history, medicine permissions and lunch accounts.
- Order anything that ships. Uniforms, shoes in a new size and lunch gear.
School supplies by category
| Category | Common items |
|---|---|
| Writing | Pencils, pens, erasers, highlighters |
| Paper | Notebooks, folders, binder and dividers |
| Art | Crayons, markers or colored pencils, glue sticks, scissors |
| Tech | Headphones, a calculator for older grades |
| Gear | Backpack, lunch box, water bottle |
The AAP's backpack safety advice suggests a pack with two padded straps that weighs no more than 10 to 20 percent of your child's body weight when full.
The week before school
- Move bedtime 15 minutes earlier every night or two.
- Practice the morning routine once or twice at real school times.
- Plan the first week of lunches and breakfasts. Start with these quick lunch ideas.
- Set up a homework spot with supplies close by.
- Label everything: backpack, lunch box, jacket and water bottle.
Build routines that last past September
The first week sets the pattern. A written routine on the fridge means fewer reminders and fewer arguments. The AAP's back to school tips also suggest talking through any worries ahead of time and keeping the night before calm.
If your child's teacher asks for nightly reading, keep a free reading log by the books and fill it in right after reading.
The first long weekend of the school year is Labor Day 2027; our guide has a cookout plan and fall dates to note. For the whole month, print the free September 2027 calendar.
For middle school, high school and college students, a free academic planner with a weekly assignment page keeps homework visible.
Morning: wake up, bathroom, dress, breakfast, shoes, backpack and out the door.
After school: unpack the lunch box, check the folder for forms, snack, homework or reading, free time, then pack for tomorrow.
For younger kids, a picture for each step works better than words. Older kids can own their own checklist and tick it off. Either way, review the routine after the first two weeks and drop any step that isn't working. A routine that fits your real mornings will stick far longer than a perfect one.
Budget for the back to school season
Back to school spending sneaks up, especially with more than one child. A short plan keeps it in check:
- Take stock first. Gather last year's supplies, clothes and shoes. Many items still work.
- Set a total per child. Decide what you'll spend on supplies, clothes and fees before you shop.
- Shop the list, not the aisle. Buy what the teacher asked for. Extras can wait until a few weeks in. For more on this topic, see our kids planning guides. Browse related guides in our school planning hub.
- Look for tax-free weekends. Many states drop sales tax on supplies and clothes for a few days in summer.
- Plan for fees. Field trips, sports, clubs and lunch accounts often land in the first month.
If one child needs a new laptop or instrument this year, consider a small sinking fund. Our sinking funds guide shows how to save a little each month for costs you know are coming.
Keep school paperwork in one place
Schools send home a lot: forms, calendars, picture day order sheets and teacher notes. A single folder or binder section per child keeps them from piling up on the counter.
The Kids Chore Chart ($3.49) is a printable with a weekly chore chart, morning and evening routine pages, chore ideas by age, a sticker reward chart and an allowance tracker. The Household Binder ($6.99) adds a monthly calendar, a weekly planner, a meal planner and birthdays and important dates for the whole family. Both are part of bigger sets: the chore chart comes in the Family Life Admin Bundle ($15.99).
For more planning help, see our chore chart by age, how to organize a family calendar and our weekly planner.
Older students can start the year with a better note system, too. Our guide to Cornell notes explains the cue column, notes column and summary, with a full example page.
Need lunchbox ideas for the first week? Our list of 35 school lunches includes nut-free picks and a weekly packing plan.
Kids Chore Chart
Weekly chore chart, morning and evening routines, chore ideas by age, a sticker reward chart and an allowance tracker.
$3.49 · Instant download. Print at home or fill it in on screen. Or browse the full Family & Life Admin collection.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a back to school checklist? A good back to school checklist covers four things: paperwork and appointments, school supplies, clothes and gear, and routines. That means forms, emergency contacts and any checkups first, then the supply list and shoes, then shifting bedtime and practicing mornings. Our free printable groups them by when to do each one.
When should I start back to school prep? About two to three weeks before the first day works for most families. That's enough time to book a checkup, order anything that ships, and slowly move bedtime earlier. Supply lists are often posted on the school website in midsummer, so check there before you shop.
How heavy should a child's backpack be? The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a loaded backpack weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child's body weight. Pick one with two wide padded straps and a padded back, and pack the heaviest items closest to the back. Using both straps spreads the weight evenly.
Does my child need shots before school starts? Most states require certain vaccines for school, and many schools ask for an updated record each year. The CDC publishes the recommended schedule by age. Check your state's and school's requirements early, because pediatric offices book up in the weeks before school starts.
How do I get kids back on a school sleep schedule? Move bedtime and wake-up time earlier by about 15 minutes every few days, starting a week or two before school. Keep screens out of the last hour before bed. Practice the full morning routine a couple of times so the first real school morning feels familiar.
How can I save money on back to school shopping? Shop your house first, since many supplies carry over from last year. Buy only what's on the school's list, and wait on clothes until a few weeks into school, when you know what your child actually needs. Many states also have sales tax holidays on school supplies and clothing.
What forms do schools usually need? Common forms include emergency contacts, a health history, permission to give medicine at school, transportation details, photo or media consent and a lunch account application. Keep copies in one folder or a household binder so you can fill in next year's forms faster.
How do I make a back to school morning routine? Write the steps in order, from waking up to walking out the door, and post them where your child can see them. Pre-readers do well with pictures. Doing part of the routine the night before, like packing the backpack and laying out clothes, makes mornings much calmer.
What do kids need for the first day of school? Most kids need a backpack, a lunch or lunch money, a water bottle, the supplies on the school list, any signed forms and comfortable shoes. Label everything with your child's name. Check whether the school wants supplies on day one or later in the week.
Is there a free back to school checklist I can print? Yes, there's a free back to school checklist you can print. The free back to school checklist on this page is a two-page PDF that we email to you. Page one covers two weeks out, supplies, clothes and the week before. Page two is a morning and after-school routine with space for contacts and key dates.
How can I help an anxious child get ready for school? Visit the school or walk the route ahead of time, meet the teacher if there's an open house, and talk through what the first day will look like. Keep the night before calm and low-key. The AAP's back to school tips include more ideas for kids who feel nervous.
Free printable
Start the school year ready: get the free back to school checklist
A printable back to school checklist: supplies, forms and the two-week countdown to the first day. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple routines for kids, school days and family life.
Sources
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Back to school tips healthychildren.org
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Backpack safety healthychildren.org
- CDC: Child and adolescent immunization schedule cdc.gov