Romper’s Back To School issue is all about making these school days — that little universe stretching from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. — the best and the easiest they can be. We've tackled some of the logistical & timeless questions in the hopes of making it a little easier for you to enjoy the process as your kids discover their own sense of identity, outside of and beyond you, their parents...

15 Easy School Night Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Actually Look Forward To

If beating the back-to-school blues by serving up delicious dinners every night of the week that your family will love sounds like way too much work for your tired mama brain, think again. There are plenty of Instant Pot recipes for school nights…

13 First Graders Give Advice To Kindergartners & It’s Pure Gold

When it comes to entering kindergarten, some kids are excited, some are nervous, and some (read: my daughter) are already planning their first-day-of-school outfit. And while we parents can be an important emotional resource for our children during…

7 Signs Your Child Is Adjusting Well To School, According To Experts

This year, my son will be transitioning from elementary to middle school. This is going to be a tremendous amount of change for him, as he goes into a gifted magnet program in a general education middle school. There are bound to be hurdles that I…

After-School Routine Ideas That Experts & Parents Swear By

Experts say establishing a good after-school routine for your kids is beneficial for the whole family.

What If My Kid Misses Me During The School Day? How Teachers Help

It's normal for your kid to miss you during the school day, and teachers know how to help. Six teachers share how they help kids deal with separation anxiety at school.

Celebrate the start of a new year with 109 back to school clothes, shoes, and accessories your kid will actually want to wear, no matter their personality. We made sure to throw in a few fun picks for moms, too — so get shopping.

With school almost in session, here’s everything you need to get your kids (and yourself) ready for that much-anticipated first week.

Remember how 9 a.m. used to feel like the start of the day, and then you became a mom? Romper's ongoing Instagram series #Before9am celebrates all you do before most people have their coffee. Here, writer Meg Boggs walks us through her jam-packed early morning to-do list, which includes making breakfast, spending quality time reading with her toddler Maci, and yes, taking a few deep breaths.

My phone buzzed at 5:36 a.m. I heard some noises on the monitor. With crusty eyes and probably next-level dragon breath, I opened one eye to check the camera on my phone. She was squirming a bit. So as usual, I sat on the edge of the bed. For like 10 minutes. IDK. Maybe longer? Who knows. But I always just sort of sit there breathing. It’s another day.

I take one last deep breath before standing up from the edge of the bed. Before I wash up. Make the bed. Start a load of laundry. Make breakfast in my undies. Sip coffee as Maci runs circles around the island and between my legs. Brush her hair. Serve breakfast. Get her dressed. Prepare my workout drinks. Pack her bag. Put on my workout clothes. And finally sit back down to read her some books before we head out the door to the gym. Before the next wave of the day washes in. Before I’m able to give myself a pat on the back for everything I do #before9am.

Check out more #Before9am on Romper's Instagram.

School Bus Anxiety Happens, So Here's How To Prep Your Kid For The Big Yellow Ride

Heading to school for the first time can evoke a myriad of emotions for kids and parents alike. All of the newness during the beginning of a new school year brings with it a variety of anxiety-inducing experiences like meeting a new teacher, making…

3 Ways To Get Involved In The PTA, Even If You Don't Have Time

As parents (and mothers especially, let's get real) we are stretched to the limit. Between raising our children, professional commitments (whether you work outside the home or not), aging parents and the multitude of issues that arise on a daily…

8 Bento Boxes For Kindergarten, Because Little Hands Need Easy-To-Open Lunches

Coming up with new, creative lunches to send with your kindergarteners each day can be a real drag. Let's be honest, most of us would rather just slap some sun butter on wheat, slice an apple, and throw in a bag of Hot Cheetos and call it a day.…

How A Hot Mess Mom Gets Her Kids To School

Getting my son out the door to school every day was always a challenge. But now that I have two children, I can safely say that I'm a hot mess five mornings a week. So let me tell you how a hot mess mom gets her kids to school, because the struggle…

Finding The "Right" Kindergarten Has Become One Of The Most Anxious Rites Of Passage

When I was a kid, everyone just went to the elementary school that was closest to them. It’s still more or less the default these days, except now we also have something called “school choice" — systems allowing you to rank your preferences for…

The Child Collective Box Service Is Adding More Kid Sizes, Just In Time For A Stylish School Year

If you're still putting your kiddo's back-to-school wardrobe together, there's a stylish new option to consider. The Collective Child box service is expanding its sizing options to serve more kids, which means it's about to be the most stylish…

This First Day Of School Photo Idea Will Take 'Toy Story' Fans To Infinity & Beyond

After a long summer, September is finally here and parents everywhere are dusting off the backpacks and sending their kiddos off to school. And while most social media feeds are currently crammed with staged and impromptu back-to-school photos…

Here's Everything Princess Charlotte Will Study In School This Year

The school year at Thomas's Battersea — AKA the primary school of your dreams — starts on Thursday and is set to have a special new member: Princess Charlotte. As the little princess joins her big bro on campus, she is set to learn a lot! Here's…

6 Back-To-School Rituals For Homeschoolers That School Kids Do, Too

As kids across the country go back to school, parents and caregivers are finding new, exciting, and creative ways to celebrate (and prepare) for another school year. Of course, every family is different, and there are a slew of back-to-school…

10 Embarrassing School Drop-Off & Pick-Up Moments, From Moms Who Survived Them

Before my oldest started kindergarten, I assumed that school drop-off and pick-up was a no-brainer. You just pull up and let your kid out and repeat the same process, in reverse, in the afternoon, right? Wrong. I soon discovered that delivering your…

Moms' Back-To-School Wine & Donuts Party Goes Viral In Hilarious Post You Should Definitely Copy

Back-to-school is a bit fraught for some parents. It signals another year of your kids getting older, growing up and away from you. Another summer gone, a return to routine and structure after possibly enjoying a bit more carefree lifestyle over…

Giving Up The Back-To-School Makeover Fantasy

Among the myriad mistakes I made growing up was my back-to-school outfit in seventh grade. This was the ‘80s, mind you. I’d splurged at my local Caldor, a discount chain, on what I felt sure was a sharp new look: high-waisted Lee jeans, a plaid…

This Mom's Solo Trip To Disney World On Her Kids' First Day Of School Is The Best Idea Ever

Every once in awhile the stars align. Let's say you're a mom of four boys and your youngest son is heading off to university in a few weeks. And you are crippled with the fear of jumping into the child-free abyss and wondering what you are going to…

#ClearTheLists Is Helping Teachers With School Supplies — Here's How To Get Involved

Any parent will tell you that back-to-shopping is expensive. Between notebooks, backpacks, pencils, and clothes, the costs add up quickly. And teachers all across the country also feel that financial burden. In an effort to support fellow educators,…

My Son is Headed to Kindergarten. He’s Ready. I’m Not.

The second summer vacation begins, social media usually fills with “what do I do with my kids?!” panic, and back-to-school season brings hilarious photos of moms and dads kicking their kids out the door, ready to reclaim their freedom. For me,…

OshKosh's Back-To-School Sale Is Epic

There are two things that feel really dang good. One is sending your kid back to school at the end of the summer. The second is saving money. Back-to-school sales combine both, making them pretty much the greatest events of the year. If you're busy…

Etsy's First Back-To-School Sale Will Make You Wish You Were A Kid Again

The end of the summer means back to school savings bonanzas, and this year, there's a new place to shop for deals. Etsy's first ever back to school sale is happening now, and there are so many amazing finds. I'm just going to warn you right now…

How Back-To-School Season Affects Your Cat, According To Experts

Back to school season inspires a mix of emotions for your family members. The little ones are nervous and excited; you're thrilled to have your home back but simultaneously sad to lose time with people you spent endless summer hours with. But how…

A Clean Desk Can Boost Your Child's Productivity In More Ways Than One, New Study Finds

It's officially August, which means kids across America are either gearing up for back-to-school festivities or have already kicked off the school year. And, as expected, many parents are brainstorming ways to set their kids up for success this…

What Parents Should Know About Homework, According To 9 Teachers

Homework is a hot button issue among a lot of parents. But what should parents know about homework, according to teachers? Because while the debate rages on — online, at the dinner table, and in parenting groups — it's the people who are usually…

10 Hot Lunch Ideas For Kindergarteners Who Hate Sandwiches (That Won't Be A Soggy Mess)

My kid is a super picky eater with food allergies. For the first several years of his schooling, I packed him a lunch each and every day. I filled his little R2D2 lunch box with everything from veggie sushi to chicken lo mein, in hopes that he would…

This Baby Shark Backpack Is A Must-Have For Every Shark-Singing Tot

Ah, Baby Shark. Two words that spark joy in the hearts of the toddler set and pained expressions in the eyes of their parents. One of YouTube's biggest sensations was originally created by Pinkfong in 2017 and has been watched over 3 billion times…

8 Things Your Kid Will Do On The 1st Day Of Preschool That'll Help Put Both Of You At Ease

Back-to-school time is an important time for all children (and their secretly relieved moms), but it's a huge deal for kids going to school for the first time. For many 4-year-olds, preschool is their first experience in a classroom environment, and…