Here we are again: It's been a wonderful summer in Tokyo, full of matsuri, Hanabi, and plenty of fun with family and friends — and it's completely blown by! Very soon, it will be time to pack lunches, help with homework, and schedule extracurriculars.

As we do every year, CareFinder can offer some helpful tips ahead of back-to-school to make the transition from unstructured summertime to the routine of the school year smoother.

Speaking of Routine...

Now is the time to recreate one! The lazy days of summer are perfect for resting and recharging, but the school bus or subway operates on a schedule, so your children should get ready to, too. Use these last weeks of the season to begin acclimating the whole family to the school-year schedule so that your minds and bodies aren't sent into shock when the alarm rings on the first day back. This is also helpful in understanding what if any, supplemental childcare needs you may have. If school's over before work, using a sitter for pick-up and after-school care is a huge help!

Check in on Feelings

In addition to recapping the many amazing memories your family has made this summer, it's also a good idea to discuss any fears, excitement, or otherwise, your children may have about the upcoming school year. Are they starting a new school? Will the coursework be more strenuous? Will they commute by themselves? Understanding their feelings well in advance of school starting provides the opportunity to address any concerns before they result in children who don't want to attend — or get lost on the way!

Set Goals

In each of your child's classes, the teacher will undoubtedly have goals for the group to achieve throughout the year and also hopefully personalized plans for your child, as well. But aside from what is expected from a course standard or testing perspective, what do you and your children want to accomplish in the nine or 10 months ahead? Perhaps it's a certain number of books read or the completion of a complex science project. Whatever it may be, it's not only a fun activity, it's also a great way to incorporate the whole family into your child's education.

Stock Up Sustainably

Back-to-School shopping is not a novel concept, and this time of year you will find plenty of sales on the standard supplies: sneakers, backpacks, pencils. In addition to those necessities, when it comes to the items you know you will use a million of over the course of the year — food storage bags, plastic drinks, paper towels and napkins, notebooks and paper — consider more sustainable alternatives. Bento boxes are not difficult to find in Japan; in addition, grab durable glass food storage containers for leftovers and cloth napkins that can be easily washed. Rocketbook notebooks allow your children to take notes, and then scan them to your computer, eliminating the need to purchase endless notebooks over the year. And while it's nearly impossible to avoid vending machines in Tokyo, you can eliminate much of your children's single-use plastic drink consumption with a kawaii bottle. Not only does this save you money in the long run, it's also good for the planet!