In North Texas, the back-to-school season is more than just a return to routine. It’s a community-wide shift that brings big emotions, busy schedules, and new beginnings. And with the school year approaching fast, now is the perfect time to start preparing!
Here are Clayton’s top 10 back-to-school tips for parents in Fort Worth ISD, Birdville ISD, Crowley ISD, and Keller ISD, focused on helping your child feel prepared before school starts.
1. Ease Into School-Year Routines Before August
Start shifting bedtimes, wake-up times, and daily structure 1–2 weeks before school begins. This helps your child adjust gradually, especially after a summer of relaxed schedules!
Why it matters in North Texas: Many schools in Birdville, Crowley, Forth Worth, & Keller districts return to class by mid-August. Preparing early helps your child adjust without the stress of an abrupt change.
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: Practice your entire morning routine: making breakfast, getting dressed, and even driving to your child’s school campus! The repetition and familiarity will help ease any anxiety your child feels and will help them build confidence.
2. Talk About the New School Year Openly
Ask your child how they feel about going back to school. Are they excited? Nervous? How do they feel about seeing their friends? About starting the year with a new teacher? Setting aside time to talk to them will help them process their emotions and feel supported as they begin their new chapter.
Why it matters: Transitions can feel overwhelming for children and adults alike. That’s why building emotional readiness is a big part of the Clayton Quest curriculum we use in our Tarrant County after school care programs. And it’s also something you can build at home with open conversations!
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: Help your child set one personal goal for the year to look forward to, such as “I want to make a new friend” or “I want to try a new activity.” Additionally, you can ask your child what they’re most looking forward to and what they might be worried about. Make sure to listen first and reassure second!
3. Create a Calm, Ready-to-Learn Homework Space
Even before assignments begin, it’s important to set up a consistent homework area at home. Keep it quiet, stocked with supplies, and free of distractions. Even if the academic year hasn’t started yet, this will help your child build a school-focused mindset!
Local insight: Homes across Tarrant County and North Texas often have open layouts, so designating a focused space for your child to complete schoolwork can make a big difference! Having a clear, organized area to go to will help them feel prepared.
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: Let your child help decorate or organize their space. It gives them a sense of ownership and motivates learning!
4. Reconnect With Reading
Use the last few weeks of summer to bring back regular reading time for your child. Even 20 minutes a day is a great start!
Why it works: Reading a little bit every day helps prevent the “summer slide” for your child and supports stronger classroom performance when they return. Exploring books and storytime outside the classroom also helps them build a lifelong love of reading.
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: Use your local library, such as the Fort Worth Public Library or Keller Public Library, to pick up books your child is naturally interested in. Help them reignite their reading habits by reading together or by taking turns reading out loud!
5. Visit the School or Drive Your Route Together
Especially if your child is starting at a new school, make sure to take time to visit the campus, meet their new teacher, or review the school layout online.
Why this matters: Familiarity breeds confidence! Even a quick drive by the school can help kids feel more grounded and ease their fears. It could even help them visualize the year ahead and make them feel excited about their return to the classroom!
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: If your child is enrolled in Clayton’s on-site before or after school care, show them where their program takes place and talk through the fun, engaging activities they have to look forward to.
6. Practice Independence With Daily Tasks
Before the academic year starts is the perfect time to reintroduce helpful school habits like packing a backpack, choosing an outfit the night before, or packing a healthy lunch!
Why this works: Our Clayton programs throughout Birdville, Crowley, Fort Worth, and Keller ISDs emphasize independence through real-world learning, giving kids the skills to make decisions for themselves. We recommend taking this approach at home too! Empowering your child to complete daily tasks on their own will help them build confidence and competence.
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: Use a picture-based checklist for younger kids to help motivate them to complete their tasks. Visual cues help younger children take initiative and feel proud of their independence.
7. Confirm Your Before and After School Plans
For working parents, back-to-school schedules can be hard to juggle with work hours! If you need care for your child during out-of-school time, it can be helpful to confirm your care arrangements early so you can talk to your child about what to expect for the year ahead.
Local insights: With long commutes and unpredictable traffic across North Texas, having a reliable onsite care program at your child’s school can give you the convenience you need and peace of mind.
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: Clayton provides safe, enriching programs onsite at dozens of Tarrant County schools, with convenient pick-up, engaging activities, and hands-on learning. Learn more about our programs here.
8. Shop and Prep School Supplies Early
Check your ISD’s back-to-school supply list early so you can avoid the last-minute rush! Many local North Texas school districts post their required supply lists in July. Once you have this list ready to go, shop together with your child to build excitement and buy with purpose.
Local Insight: North Texas ISDs often host back-to-school fairs! Check your district’s website for events offering free supplies or health services.
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: Make it a fun event for your child! Plan a “back-to-school supply night” complete with snacks and stickers for labeling items.
9. Build a “Back-to-School Toolkit” Together
Once you’ve gotten your school supplies, you can build on the momentum! Pack a small pencil case or pouch with positive items, like a favorite eraser, a calming stone, a photo of their favorite pet, or a sticker. This gives your child something personal to hold on to while they’re at school.
Why it helps: Familiar, comforting items reduce anxiety and help children self-regulate when they’re feeling overwhelmed. This supports their emotional resilience, which is essential for successful learning!
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: At Clayton, we help students learn mindfulness and emotional regulation through our Clayton Quest curriculum. Encouraging your child to include a daily affirmation in their toolkit (something they can read or repeat to themselves) reinforces the same calming techniques we use in our programs. Examples of affirmations we love:
- “Today is a fresh start.”
- “I am kind, smart, and strong.”
- “It’s okay to ask for help.”
10. Celebrate the New School Year Together
Our final back-to-school tip for parents is to mark the start of the new school year with a family breakfast, a back-to-school letter, or a family photo. This will create excitement and set a positive tone for the school year ahead.
Local insight: Families across North Texas love their traditions! Whether it’s a first-day chalkboard sign or pancakes at a favorite diner, creating special moments will help anchor your child emotionally.
Clayton Back-to-School Tip: Send a small encouragement note in your child’s lunchbox or backpack. A few kind words on that first day can make a big impact!
Start the School Year Right with Clayton Youth Enrichment
Clayton Youth Enrichment is more than a before school, after school, or day camp program. It’s a caring, safe place that helps students learn essential life skills and build strong communities! We offer convenient pick-up for parents at our school locations across Fort Worth ISD, Birdville ISD, Crowley ISD, and Keller ISD, enriching, hands-on activities, and focused attention with a 1:15 teacher-to-student ratio. This school year, help your child learn leadership, communication, and problem-solving, all while having fun at Clayton!