Parents’ back-to-school pressure includes time, money

After a long and (at least partially) relaxing summer, going back to school can hit parents like a bucket of ice water.

We traded long afternoons by the pool for teacher meet-and-greets and open houses, getting up early to catch the bus, joining new clubs, finding the right brand of No. 2 pencils, and buying $70 water bottles for the kids. Popularity.

A new survey from Life360 reveals that stress takes a more serious toll than most of us realize.

The Life360 team surveyed 1,000 U.S. parents of school-aged children to understand their daily routines and major stressors as they return to school. result? Most of us do struggle.

For many of the families surveyed, time and logistics were a major issue. When you factor in factors like transportation, after-school activities, sports leagues, homework time, and more, it’s easy to see how family calendars can get out of hand—a big problem for parents trying to juggle home and family responsibilities at the same time. You know, trying to keep a job.

Surveys show parents spend 17 hours a week coordinating family schedules and logistics. This is equivalent to having an extra part-time job!

However, money is an even bigger stressor, with the average family spending nearly $458 per child on back-to-school supplies, most of which are lost over the course of the year ($175 worth!) and must be replaced again and again. Growing children need new clothes, new shoes, new hairstyles, and more. Of course, there are those pesky special items that parents have to find, like certain types of markers or notebooks, which not only cost money but are also troublesome to find.

We all know back-to-school is a confusing time for families, but the survey highlights the extent of the problem. Many parents agree that the stress of back-to-school is worse than the stress of the holidays, with a shocking 60% even crying from the stress of it all.

How to deal with back-to-school chaos

The transition from summer vacation to the first day of school is always going to be a little bumpy, but there has to be a better way to handle it than falling on the kitchen floor, right?

Our experts have some advice.

Balance a busy schedule

Jillian Amodio, a licensed therapist (LMSW) and founder of Moms for Mental Health, says you can start by getting a better handle on time management—not Not through calendar hacks or becoming a super-effective parenting machine, but by asking for help and putting in the effort.

“Take stock of who you can rely on in your life for extra support. Grandparents, friends, uncles, aunts, neighbors, etc.,” she says. “It’s completely okay to ask for help, and many people actually find a lot of joy in being able to help someone they care about.”

Maybe grandma can take care of transportation to after-school activities a few times a week, or you can take turns carpooling with a friend. Anything to take a moment to yourself.

She also recommends saying “no” more often to protect the family schedule and your sanity.

“Sneak-ins, class visits, PTO meetings, and back-to-school nights are all fine, but if your schedule is too full, it’s 100 percent okay to say no! Saying no is an often-overlooked aspect of self-care,” Amodio added.

Erika Katz, parenting expert and Life360 spokesperson, says using apps can ease back-to-school stress by keeping everything organized.

“As far as scheduling goes, generally I find it’s easier to have one person create the schedule and then share it with the rest of the family so everyone knows where they need to be,” Katz explains.

If families add everyone to a location-sharing app, they’ll know where their children are, whether at school or elsewhere, she said. On the other hand, it can also let children know if their parents or caregivers are on the way or running late.

back to school expenses

The financial burden of returning to school is another thorny issue.

When it comes to clothes, the obvious answer is to buy secondhand, reuse, and find secondhand clothing from friends. But let’s face it; this approach won’t necessarily excite your child. Plus, who doesn’t love witnessing the confidence your child gains from wearing brand new clothes on the first day of school?

Katz says it’s OK to spend a little money on some of the latest trends while avoiding a massive back-to-school wardrobe revamp that could wipe a chunk out of your bank account all at once. Spread the cost of new clothes and shoes over the year as much as possible.

“Kids grow up so fast. By late fall, their shoe sizes may be different. “Try to use what you have and fill it in as you go. ”

Another tip from Katz is to have a few friends bring over some clothes they no longer want and let the kids do a big swap. It redefines the concept of second-hand, making it more fun and exciting – dare I say, even cool?

For older kids, Katz even recommends showing them how to use resale apps to sell their old clothes. It teaches them to be enterprising and not wasteful, and it may help them make some money and teach them to save money to buy luxuries they may want.

There’s really no getting around the need for school supplies, but if cost is a major concern, Jillian Amodio says don’t be afraid to contact your school, they may be able to help.

“If your family is having trouble affording back-to-school necessities, reach out to your guidance counselor as they may also have resources available,” she said. “Asking for help is never a sign of weakness, but a sign of love and resilience!”

Remember, after a few weeks you will become an expert at your new habits and the overwhelming stress and confusion will disappear. It is important to protect the mental health of everyone in the family at the same time. This might mean asking friends, family, or school for help, or even saying “no” to things you would normally be inclined to do or buy.

If everyone in the family sticks together, you’ll get through it, and before you know it, you’ll be feeling refreshed and ready to take on the stress of the holidays!