BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS | FROM A PRO
– Catch the sales after the 4th of July. Especially if your children attend a year-round school or if your climate doesn’t get cool until October. Take advantage of those sales and clearance buys with shorts and t-shirts during the extended warm season.
– Gradually start getting the kids back on an early sleep schedule. It helps them and also us as parents to reduce frustration when school starts back, putting everyone back in a routine.
– Start today! Creating a school fund going forward. I started putting money away into an envelope for their back to school expenses. I finally got tired of feeling off guard with their school supplies and etc. Putting money away in the envelope every month. Every two weeks may work best for you.
– If you are tight on money, check with your local community to see they are having a Back To School Drive. Whether it is backpacks, school supplies, haircuts or hairstyles they may be giving away; As parents, we know a little goes a long way.
– Find deep discounts on school supplies. After the 4th of July, continuously check the Office supply and Drug stores weekly store ads. Some of the best deals I find with back to school supplies are from Staples, Walgreens, CVS. Office Max and Office Depot. I remember when the deals where just a pennies but now they are still AWESOME with less than $1.00. Best days to shop are on Sundays so you can to beat the rush!
– Go through all of your children’s clothing and purge all of the clothing that is too small, torn or stained and get rid of them. This is a great time to teach your children how to declutter and purge their clothes so that when they get older they will be able to do it on there own.
– Do a deep cleaning in your children rooms. There is nothing like having a nice, clean and decluttered room to start the new school year outright.
– Check Pinterest and YouTube for unlimited school lunch ideas. Here is a grocery list and meal plan (CLICK HERE) to help keep all of your ideas together.
– Sign up to be a volunteer early in the school year if you have extra time in your schedule or would like too. This can be a long process and you want to make sure you are cleared when the class field trip comes around if you want to chaperone.
– Be sure to have extra house keys made for older children.
– Set out all of your clothes for the week on Sunday. If the kids are old enough remind them of this on Sunday. It is a huge time saver each morning.
– On the first day of school be prepared to sign your life away with all of the paperwork that comes home that needs to sign. LOL! I can’t tell you how many times I was exhausted and didn’t feel like signing paperwork or the kids forgot to give it to me and it is due TOMORROW. So ask for their folders or bookbags; set some time aside when they arrive home to sign everything.
– Don’t forget the Dollar Tree! They are great for supplies too! Especially for facial tissue, sanitizer, wipes or etc. that their classroom may need. Especially if the teacher splits all the supplies up with the class.
– If you have older children be sure to invest in a heavy-duty backpack. It may be expensive at first but it will save you later down the road by not having to re-buy backpacks every year.
– Try to get all of your doctors, eye, and dentists appointments out the way before school starts. This way you do not have to take off work or get them out of school to go to an appointment.
Here is a FREE 6 months calendar to help you keep everything together (CLICK HERE).
– If your child plays sports be sure to schedule sports physicals early! Normally it is a wait to schedule an appointment with the Pediatrics. You do not want to get caught with an expired sports physical, leaving the kiddos waiting on the sidelines until they get a new physical.
– Setup a station or command center for bookbag drops, important papers, reminders, awards or even artwork to have a central location to find things quickly.
– Check to see if the school as helpful apps for continuous communication for example: Here Comes the Bus app (track when the bus is coming) or MyLunchMoney app (load money, check balance or history details).
– Put a reminder in your phone or Google calendar to check their grades or check-in weekly if you have older children. My boys have a system call Powerschool to check their grades and missing assignments. My middle son is really smart but very forgetful when it comes to turning in some assignments. Checking Powerschool helps all of us stay on top of everything and avoid zeros when he clearly understands the assignments.
– Start Back to School shopping early and beat the rush. Please try not to wait until the weekend before school starts. This will help to avoid long lines and the best selection gone first.
– Also, put a reminder on your calendar for special dates like Christmas, Teachers or Bus Drivers Appreciation so you will not forget. I can’t tell you how many times I have completely forgotten.
– Keep in touch with the school counselor, especially when your child goes to high school. Make sure they are on track for graduation and/or college preparation with the correct course requirements.
– If you simply do not have the funds for clothing, shoes or back to school supplies do not STRESS IT! Do not beat yourself up about it. It happens to all of us, at one time or the other. As long as they are loved, have full bellies and clean laundered clothes, they will be ALL RIGHT!!
