14 Simple Ways to Prepare for Back-to-School

August has arrived, and you know what that means...that's right! It's Back-to-School time! For some, the Back-to-School sales have already begun, while others may not even be aware that their summers are nearly over!

Here are 14 tips to help you prepare for the coming school year.

1. Sleep on it

Children don’t always have strict sleeping schedules over the summer. Help your child get used to the back-to-school routine by starting the transition early. Establish earlier bed times and wake-up times at least a week before school starts.

2. Eat it up

A growling stomach can make it harder to concentrate. Nutritious meals play a large role in proper brain development. Children who eat a healthy breakfast and lunch often do better in school.

3. Check it out

Most schools require up-to-date immunization records. It’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician before school starts to ensure that your child is healthy and up-to-date. Don’t forget to get a copy of any documents that the school might need!

4. Turn it off

Establish rules about acceptable TV programs and time spent on the tube. Consider placing an overall TV time limit. The Mayo Clinic recommends that children do not watch more than 1 or 2 hours of television per day.

5. Book it

Summer time often results in a shorter attention span for kids. Reading aloud together can help prepare to focus in the classroom. Plus, asking questions about the story can help kids focus on the story while improving memory skills that will also come in handy in the classroom!

6. Plan it

Planning meals ahead of time often results in healthier meal choices and more time saved. Meals can also be prepared in advance, which saves even more time! Many families find that meal pre-planning and preparation allows them enough free-time to be able to focus more on each other, or to help-out with homework.

7. Lay it out

Deciding what clothing to wear can be a huge issue for younger kids—and many adults! In order to avoid a clothing catastrophe, many families choose to lay out weekly options for kids to choose. That way you know that you’ll approve and they still feel like they get a choice!

8. Work it

When tasks are simple to do, they’re more likely to be done.  Establishing a workstation for homework & stocking it with supplies helps to take some of the thought process—and dread—out of homework time.

9. Supply it

Eliminate the stress and guesswork of school supply shopping by obtaining a supply list directly from your child’s teacher. If you’re unable to contact the teacher, most schools will post supply lists on their websites. If you still can’t locate a supply list, many retailers will have printed lists conveniently located next to the school supplies!

10. Save it

Once you have located the supply list, why not save a little money? Check store flyers and websites for sales. You should also consider buying in bulk. Warehouse stores, discount stores & online bid sites can be a great place to get basics in bulk. 

How do they fit 1,000 #2 pencils into one package anyway?

Some states even offer “Tax Free Days” for school supplies.

http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/sales_holiday.html#chart

11. Organize it

Few things are worse than finding important papers waded-up in the bottom of your kids’ backpack. Plus, you usually find them 2 weeks after you needed them! Help them get—and stay—organized with binders that they don’t mind showing off. Colorful, playful or sports themed binders can help remind kids to protect their papers.

12. Organize it again

Take advantage of your smartphone. There are apps dedicated to class schedules, sports schedules, homework due dates, field trips, flashcards, there are even digital tutor apps. Many apps will sync to multiple devices, which could come in handy if your child also has a smartphone.

13. Post it

Stay in-the-know by sharing daily schedules on a dry erase board. This way you can avoid heartache and confusion by addressing conflicting schedules in advance. Plus, you don’t want to forget about Timmy’s football game…not that he’d let you!

14. Take it easy

Dry erase boards are also an excellent place to write and keep track of chore lists for your kids. Kids can often handle a lot more responsibility than we give them credit for! Start with simple things like putting away their own backpacks. Then, establish age-appropriate chore lists for your kids so that you can have a chance (as slim as it may be) to feel sane, if only for a little while!

How to prepare your kids to go back-to-school

The lazy-hazy days of summer are nearing an end,

Which means it’s time for kids to start thinking again!   

Well, I just saw this years’ first back-to-school advertisement. I can’t believe that it’s already time to start talking about back-to-school! Where did the summer go?

Are your kids ready to go back? An even better question is: are they prepared to go back? There is a difference!

Parents who have an active role in their children’s education greatly influence their success, both in-class and beyond. Here are some of my insider tips on how to prepare your kids for success during the upcoming school year:

1: Develop good sleeping habits

The transition from the non-restrictive days of summer to a school-friendly sleep schedule can be quite difficult. According to the National Sleep Foundation, children ages five to twelve need 10-11 hours of sleep every night; older children and teens need 9-10 hours of shut-eye.

It’s best to start “training” for the new school-time sleep schedule about 1 week before school starts. That way your children will be prepared for their day and will be less likely to be cranky!

2:  Eat a healthy Breakfast

It’s a cliché for a reason; a quality breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day and therefore, it actually is the most important meal of the day. Preparing a healthy breakfast every morning may not be as simple as it sounds though, and for some families is downright impossible!

Families on the move still have healthy options. Check into meals that can be prepared in advance or find a healthy grab-and-go option. Whatever you do, experts say that you should never skip breakfast…ever!

3: Check those clothes!

New back-to-school clothes can give kids a much needed confidence boost, but lets be honest…some of the “slightly used” clothes will be just fine.

Go through drawers and closets at least a weak before school starts. Check for fit, wear & tear, and general appearance. Discard outgrown clothes but consider donating them if they’re still in good shape! 

If your child’s school has a dress code, make sure their wardrobe meets the school’s expectations!

4: Plan ahead

To school: Determine how your child will get to school. Will they walk, ride a bike, or take the bus? Once you’ve determined how they will get there, practice. Take a family bike ride to the school, walk to the bus stop or have them drive you to the school (obviously only if they’re old enough, or if they have a really nice ride!)  

This gives everyone an opportunity practice to-school travel at least once!

From School: Sometimes to-and-from-school travel arrangements are different. You should clearly state what will happen, and have them repeat it back to you. If you plan on meeting your child after school, it’s a good idea to meet at a pre-determined location. I always tell my kids “I’ll meet you right here by this giant tree.” Then I ask them “Where will we be meeting?”

Practicing after-school travel is also a great way to make sure everyone knows what to expect.

In an emergency: You never know what may happen, so it’s best to familiarize your child with a few “what-if” situations. Discussing how to react in a situation before it happens can help them prepare for, and react faster, should they experience any  unlikely events.

You should consider giving your kid a cell phone. I know there are a ton of negatives associated with kids and phones, and they should definitely be considered. Is your kid(s) responsible enough to have a cell phone? The truthful answer is: probably not. A lot of adults aren’t responsible enough to have a cell phone!

Thankfully, there are plenty of parental control apps that allow parents to restrict, monitor, or flat-out block certain activities. Each family will have to make this decision for themselves, but for me, I think it’s a no-brainer: If something bad happens, I want my kids to be able to get help.

5: Be honest

Your kid is probably dreading going back to school, and you probably can’t wait to send them back! You’re excited for them to clear the cobwebs out of their brains!

It’s okay to tell them that.

It’s also okay to remind them that they felt the same way at the beginning of the year last year, and by the end of the year they were sad it was over. Remind them of the fun that they’ll have and the friends that they will make.Tell them that you expect them to work hard. You expect them to represent your family well. You expect them to do their best.

And…

When they say that they don’t want to go back to school but they can’t explain why…

Be honest with them. Tell them it’s okay…

You will miss them too!