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.
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!
