Homemaker's Journal

Back To School Lists To Make Life Easier

Below are three lists to help make your life (and your child's) more pleasant and organized as you prepare to send them back to school.

Use these lists to create your own system to a harmonious school year.

Shopping 

Buy smaller glue and crayons. Storage space is limited in classrooms and lockers. Often with lower grades teachers will ask parents for money to pool for larger quantities of glue, crayons, tissue and pencils instead of the parents shopping for the items. 

Make sure to buy lots of extras before school starts. Take advantage of the lower prices.

Buy a good backpack and lunch box as these are probably the most abused. 

• Buy your child, pins and patches to personalize their items instead of buying a lesser quality already 'cool' backpack or lunch box.
• Make sure you buy a lunch box or backpack that your small child can open easily.

Know the school dress code before buying clothing. Some schools have rules about the wording that appears on t-shirts, skirt and shorts length and styles that reflect gangs or discrimination.

Buy socks that are all the same for easy matching at laundry time. If you have trouble telling your kid's socks and underwear apart buy different brands- they usually have a different colored stripe, or band on them.

As much as possible let kids choose their own items or at least the color or design. It helps to give them some sense of self and they tend to look forward to going back to school.

Avoid power struggles by giving them a choice between two right answers. An example would be holding up two shirts that go with a pair of slacks and let the child decide which of the two shirts they would like to wear.

When buying shoes buy extra shoe strings and polish if necessary.

 Prepare Yourself and Children

About 2 weeks before school starts: Begin going to bed and getting up on a school schedule.

The week before school starts don't plan for big events or trips.

Check on the bus schedule! Your local newspaper should publish this if your school doesn't send a flyer home to you.

Call your school, school board or newspaper to get the facts about fall sports teams and social clubs that your child will participating in. 

Make sure to get all immunizations and physicals completed.

Make a master list of phone numbers for Mom and Dad along with doctors and emergency numbers - including a neighbor or relative that will pick up your child from school when sick while you are working or come to their rescue at home after school. 

If your child has medical issues make sure to meet with the school nurse prior to the first day. Especially if medication must be given at school.

Keep rolls of quarters and dimes on hand, as well as singles. Put them in the cabinet where they are handy when you need them.

Make a check list of items easily forgotten at the last minute and hang the list in an obvious place like on the 'fridge or the inside of the front door.

Have a set place for items that are going to school to be placed the night before. In our house it's a parson's bench in the foyer.

Make up some freezable dinner, lunch and breakfast items in portion sized containers for 'those' days. Thaw, heat and eat. Some ideas for breakfast would be:

• pancakes
• waffles
• cooked bacon, sausage, ham, steak, hamburger
• PB&J sandwiches
• granola bars, 
• oatmeal or peanut butter cookies
• ice cream  or frozen yogurt with fresh fruit. What? It's dairy, eggs and fruit, right? For extra crunch and flavor top with toasted wheat germ.

Label everything that will be taken to school or worn and taken off at school, such as gym clothes and shoes, coats, hats and gloves.

Make a list of  house rules and adjustments for school days: Homework schedule, chores, TV schedule, bath time, bed time etc...

Make sure to arrange after school daycare if you work outside the home.

Arrange a time to meet the teachers if your child's school doesn't provide an open house. Teachers are more responsive to parents that show an active interest  in their children.

Go over school rules with your child.

Use a calendar placed in a visible spot to keep track of events, appointments and school vacation days.

Provide a special place for your children to place forms from school which need special attention.

Unstress Mornings 

Have children bathe or shower in the evening creating a bedtime ritual a half hour to an hour before bed. This will help them to unwind and sleep better while not adding more stress to the mornings by competing for the bathroom.

Pre-make sandwiches, wrap and freeze the weekend before (excluding mayo).

Pre-package individual portions of items to go in the lunch box in plastic containers or zip type bags. Be creative! Some 'shake up salads' that I saw looked interesting and quick, just layer the ingredients in a container in the order they are listed and when you are ready to eat shake up the container to toss the salad.

• Mandarin Chicken
  
  1/4 cup drained mandarin oranges
  1/3 cup shredded cooked chicken breast
  1/3 cup steamed broccoli
  1/4 cup chow mein noodles
  
  Macaroni
  
  1/4 cup pizza sauce
  1 cup cooked elbow macaroni
  1/3 cup defrosted frozen peas and carrots
  1/4 cup diced mozzarella cheese
  
  Tasty Taco
  
  1/4 cup salsa
  1/3 cup rinsed black beans
  3/4 cup chopped lettuce
  1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  1/3 cup baked tortilla chips, broken
  

Make sure backpacks are packed and ready to go the night before.

Create a homework center. Stock with extra crayons and supplies needed to complete homework. Make sure it's not near a TV.

Lay out clothes the night before. Storing clothes in outfits when putting away makes things easier also.

Create a special hamper in the laundry room for uniforms, gym suits and other rush items.

Fold T-shirts so that the design is recognizable without unfolding.

Each evening have a 30 minute family clean up time to get everything back in place before bedtime.

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