Back to School, Already?
Jul 20 '09
The Bottom Line Be prepared for 'Back to School!'
Each year, as children dread going back to school, parents dread the 'Back to School Shopping Trip' just as much. We have one son in Elementary School (grade 5) and one son entering Middle School (grade 7). We do have a few tricks up our sleeves to make things a little less rushed and bit more organized when it comes to starting the school year.
Here are a few things we have learned over the years:
1) Schedule a physical for your child a few weeks before school starts.
When taking your child to their physicals, make sure to ask whether the doctor recommends any immunizations. Be sure to give the doctor any notes from the school about immunizations. Sometimes schools require certain shots before your child can attend. For example, my oldest son needs two specific immunizations to enter Middle School.
The physicals are also important for your child's well being of course. Make sure you get a copy of the signed physical because if your child becomes involved in sports during the school year, he or she will need to provide a copy of a physical in many instances.
So, let your mind rest and be prepared when it comes to your child's health.
2) Get school supplies early.
I will admit that my family has done the last-minute-dash to Target or Walmart to get school supplies for the kids. The problem with doing that is some of the items they need may be sold out, and you'll have to go to two or three places to find the item.
Most big stores carry school supply lists for your child's school (local stores of course), or you can always read your back-to-school packet and get the list. I personally think that Target has the best selection, and the big wide aisles are easiest to navigate. We usually buy school supplies three or four weeks before school starts.
3) Mark your child's school supplies with black marker.
Make sure that your child's school supplies are clearly marked with their names. Be certain the marker you use won't wear off. You'll want your children to use their own supplies and you don't want to keep replenishing their stash throughout the year. School supply lists are designed to tell you what your child will need throughout the year, not every month!
4) Get a great backpack!
Our kids are very hard on their backpacks. They use them several times a day and drag all of their papers and books in them, through rain, shine or snow for a year. I always make sure I get the kids an expensive pack which has lots of room for whatever they need to carry. I would recommend ROOTS in Canada and Jansport in the US. There are several other great backpacks. Another great resource to find backpacks is the magazine Backpacker, or www.backpacker.com.
5) Pay lunch money and book/other fees before school starts!
Since my twelve year old is 6'1 with a size 13 shoe, he tends to go through a lot of lunch money! I hate having the kids run out of lunch money every couple of weeks, because the phone rings constantly to remind me that lunch money is needed, or fees for books or whatever the case may be. I try to give each child enough money for lunches for at least a month when school starts, and then I don't have to worry about it for awhile. One other thing, if there are fees for sports, we try to pay them right away so we don't have to worry about them later and we don't get nagging letters from the coaches or teachers!
6) Go over what to do if school closes early or if there is an emergency with your child.
Both of my kids have cell phones and of course the principal and office staff have numbers to call in case of an emergency. However, if school is closing due to snow, I always make sure my kids know to stay at the school until I pick them up. Also, your child should know who is on the list for emergency purposes and who it's safe to leave the school with.
7) Be involved from the beginning.
Introduce yourself to your child's teacher and be sure to go to Back to School Nights. If your child is involved in sports, make sure to go to his/her games and support your children. Studies show that children who's parents are active in their lives and activities do better than children who's parents are not. Volunteer, get involved and cheer for your child!
8) Get your child on a healthy sleep schedule a week before school starts!
My children love to stay up late at night and watch movies or play video games in the summer. Unfortunately, that is not very conducive to getting a good rest and being prepared for school work. Instead of shocking them by getting them up early on the first day of school, my husband and I like to get them on a healthy sleep/wake-up schedule for about a week until school starts. This way they won't be falling asleep in second period!
In Conclusion:
The above are some of the things we do to get our children ready for school. Fall is such an exciting time for us because my oldest plays football and we just really enjoy going to the games and practices. Also, my youngest is also involved in many activities, and we find so much joy in interacting with them. I hope this helps someone who is looking for ways to make the transition from summer to school.
Happy 2009/2010 school year!
Summer :)
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
lyoness913
|
 in Movies |
 in Books |
 - Top 500 |
|
Location: Overland Park, KS
Reviews written: 526
Trusted by: 279 members
About Me:
Missing Epinions! Soo busy with kids!!
|
|
|
More Back to School Gift Ideas
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.