✅ The 4-Week Back-to-School Checklist

(That Will Actually Reduce the Mental Load)

Everything you need to do—without doing it all alone.

This is your comprehensive list of everything that needs to get done before the school year starts. Review and divvy items up, so it’s not all on one person’s shoulders. The goal doesn’t have to be 50/50 (unless you want it to be), the trick is to find the ratio that works best for your family.

Start a shared To Do list in Jam to keep tabs, get reminders and divvy it up with your family, or print our downloadable PDF to keep it straight.

A little more old-school?

Download and print this guide!

3-4 Weeks OUT

  • Book any doctor or dentist appointments needed before school starts – and your schedules get crazy. (Health)

  • Get your school medical forms signed by the doctor.  (Health.)

  • Request updated prescriptions, EpiPens, or medications for the school nurse (Health)

  • Register for bus routes or transportation if needed  (School programs + sign ups)

  • Purchase stick on labels (Clothing + Gear)

  • Go through closets and donate or store outgrown clothes (Clothing + Gear)

  • Check for dress code items if pertinent (uniforms, polos, etc.) (Clothing + Gear)

  • Make a list of any clothing/shoe needs (Clothing + Gear)

  • Order any uniforms needed OR start Back to School clothing shopping (Clothing + Gear)

  • Buy a new backpack (or clean and inspect last year’s) - (Supplies + Homework Set Up)

  • Check for required textbooks or summer reading (Supplies + Homework Set Up)

  • Add key back-to-school welcome and orientation dates into the calendar (Scheduling, Systems and Coordination)  

💡 Jam Tip: Before school is the perfect time to get in those visits to doctor, the orthodontist, the dermatologist or optometrist, as well as any assessments for accommodations.

2 Weeks OUT

  • Complete and return all required school health + other mandatory forms (Health)

  • Sign up for early care, after-care, or enrichment programs (School programs + sign ups)

  • Sign up for any school-year sports teams or try-outs, orchestra/chorus, or extracurricular clubs (School programs + sign ups)

  • Order any P.E. uniforms, athletic gear or instrument rentals, if required (Clothing and Gear) 

  • Get feet measured and purchase new school shoes (Clothing and gear) 

  • Purchase any needed lunch boxes and containers (bento, thermos, etc.) (Food + Lunch Prep)

  • Buy or replace water bottles (Food + Lunch Prep) 

  • Sign up for hot lunch program if available (Food + Lunch Prep) 

  • Purchase school supplies based on your school’s list - (Supplies + Homework Set Up) 

  • Confirm that summer assignments are completed 😬 (Supplies + Homework Set Up) 

  • Get the school schedule into the family calendar (Scheduling, Systems and Coordination) Pro Tip: Using a shared tool like Jam allows you to sync the school calendar in seconds so everyone can see

  • Start coordinating carpools with friends/neighbors and amongst drivers in your home (Scheduling, Systems and Coordination)

  • Book any tutoring, enrichment, or early-intervention therapy sessions that you already know may be needed (Scheduling, Systems and Coordination)

💡 Jam Tip: Don’t wait on signing up for school programs—spots often fill fast. Add dates to your shared calendar for when sign up windows open so everyone can stay on top of it. ny assessments for accommodations.

1 Week OUT

  • Label clothes, jackets, lunch gear, and water bottles (Clothing and Gear)

  • Schedule haircuts or other grooming appointments (Clothing and Gear)

  • Label lunch box and water bottle (Food + Lunch Prep)

  • Create morning and evening check lists for your kids so everyone knows what they need to do each day (include habits, routines and chores). Edit and use these lists all year to keep your kids on track. (1 week) 

  • Start a “Favorite Lunch” and “Favorite breakfast” list that the kids must add (realistic) items to so that everyone has buy-in and lunch boxes come back empty.

  • Stock up on favorite breakfast and lunch items (Food + Lunch Prep) 

  • Label and organize all school supplies (Supplies + Homework Set Up)

  • Restock at-home supply stations (scissors, glue, printer paper, etc.)  (Supplies + Homework Set Up)

  • Get any carpools into the calendar both for morning and afternoon (Scheduling, Systems and Coordination)💡 Jam Tip: Using a shared tool like Jam allows you to tag who is driving in your family

  • Make (or find) a First Day of School sign if that’s your tradition (First Day prep)

NIGHT BEFORE

  • Choose and lay out the first day outfit (First Day Prep) 

  • Talk through the morning routine: wake-up time, breakfast, out-the-door time (First Day Prep)

  • Pack backpacks and place them by the door the night before (First Day Prep)

DAY OF

  • Lunches and waterbottles ready to go (First Day Prep)

  • Take photos (shed tears at how big they look 😢) (First Day Prep)

  • Take a deep breath—you did it! 🎉

Get your whole family on the same page this school year.

Jam is the all-in-one shared calendar + organization app built for modern family life.