We’re sure that we can all agree that Summer deserves a speeding ticket this year! With just a couple of final weeks until the kids go back to school, today we are talking about 5 tips to help set us all up for success in transitioning back into our school routines in September.
Tip 1. Get Smart with bed times. This is a tough one, especially if you still have some travelling on your agenda, but now is the time to start to tweak our internal clocks. Easing your bedtimes earlier as the days draw closer to school will help everyone adjust more smoothly… even mom and dad! The same goes for waking up in the morning.
Tip 2. Shop for school supplies together. Making the school supply shop a team effort will help get your children get in the school spirit… especially if you set a fun theme, colour scheme of their choice, or even let them choose a few special items. Shopping online for supplies has taken the hassle out of the task, but you can still let your kiddo in on the process. schoolstart.ca is a great place to order your supplies, and the site is equipped with many local school’s supply lists with pre-designed packs. Name labels are even included with your order! mabelslabels.ca offers an amazing array of name labels – with laundry safe labels for shoes and clothing, and dishwasher safe labels for lunch containers. Organizing everything with sticker labels is also great for them to be a part of, taking pride in their new things and creating a connection to the feeling of ‘home’ when they use the supplies in the classroom.
Tip 3. Set up a homework station. Create a dedicated space for your child to do their homework. This not only prepares the home, but it also prepares their mind for the idea of schoolwork. A fun set up with colourful supplies at hand and maybe even a few desk decorations will make the station an enticing place to be when the time comes! A visit to Ikea for organizers and unique workspace items can help you set the scene. I white board or bulletin board is also a great idea for the space.
Tip 4. Set screen time boundaries now. It’s a good time to set these boundaries now – create a window of time for phones, iPads and/or video game play and put the rule into action now, so that kids don’t associate the limitation with school. Once school begins, your kiddos will already be used to the routine.
Tip 5. Let’s talk lunch. Start your pinterest engines! Now is the time to think about lunch ideas and pick out useful new containers. We love the bento style boxes with compartments. Create a master list of lunch ideas that you can stock your fridge and pantry with. If your child is old enough, they can begin to pack their own with guidelines such as: 1 protein, 1 vegetable, 1 fruit, 1 snack. You can even organize your fridge and pantry to have bins with acceptable lunch items ‘ripe’ for the picking. Having freshly prepped items on hand and a system in mind will help them make healthy choices and hopefully even EAT what they take!
Best of luck to parents and kids around the Lower Mainland as we enjoy the last of our beautiful Summer vacation days and begin the fresh new start of of the 2019-2020 school year!
