BEST OF: How to Make the Back-to-School Transition a Little Easier

Back-to-school season doesn’t have to be a chaotic scramble. In this "Best of" episode, Margaret and Amy share practical tips to help parents make the transition smoother—without getting caught up in the “back-to-school industrial complex.”

From resetting sleep schedules to planning meals and snacks, here's what really matters for your child’s success and well-being this fall. You’ll hear strategies for easing morning stress, tackling "after-school restraint collapse,” and checking in on your family’s values to make sure those priorities are aligning with your new school-year schedule.

Margaret and Amy discuss:

How much sleep kids really need—and how to help them get it

Meal and snack strategies to keep your kid energized

Using visual schedules to stay organized

Share this episode with a fellow parent who's overwhelmed with all things back-to-school!

Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:

Drew DeSilver for Pew Research Center: ⁠‘Back to school’ means anytime from late July to after Labor Day, depending on where in the U.S. you live⁠

Rachel Murphy for PennState blog: ⁠The Medical Minute: Parents, add these health tips to back-to-school to-do lists⁠

Fousia Abdullahi for Fort Worth Star-Telegram: ⁠Expert advice for a stress-free back-to-school season for North Texas families⁠

⁠Bear in the Big Blue House potty-training episode⁠