Hi, Ho It’s Back to School We Go!

Vacation time is over, time to get back to work and back to school!  Are YOU ready??  The hustle and bustle is about to begin so I’ve compiled some tips and ideas that hopefully will help you get organized and start your year off on the right track.

1. Shopping  Get your shopping done early.  Stock up on school supplies, not just for the beginning of the year but take advantage of lower prices to stock up for later on as well.  Tax Free weekend in TN is August 2-4, 2013!  Get a jump on some school clothes, stores are stocking fall clothes so purchase a few things to ensure you don’t end up in a pinch on an early cool fall day.

2.  Plan Meals in Advance A big headache in a lot of families is deciding what’s for dinner.  Try to plan a menu for dinner a week in advance.  Create a grocery list and get all you will need to prepare all of your meals.  Posting the menu in the kitchen is also an idea to remind you what is coming up and solves the “What’s for dinner?” question for everyone.  Most importantly planning ahead makes it easier to provide healthier meals and quality family time.

3.  Make a List of Easy & Healthy On-the-go Breakfasts  Whether your kids are breakfast eaters or not it is an extremely important meal and starts their day in the right direction.  Do some research and find some good options for your family.

4.  Create a “Homework Station”  Designate an area in your home that is quiet and out-of-the-way for homework to be completed.  Be sure it is fully stocked with pencils, paper and any other supplies that could be needed.

5. Create Lunch Stations Create an area in your refrigerator an in your pantry for school lunch items.  This makes it easy to see inventory as well as provides an efficient way to prepare lunches.  Finally it makes it simple for kids to help prepare their own lunches if they know where to go and what there is to choose from.

6.  Invest in a Wall Calendar  Invest in a wall calendar that is visible for the entire family.  Start the year off with the habit of everyone recording their schedules.  Families get busy and this will ensure everyone has access to what’s going on.

7.  Get Ready the Night Before  Take time in the evening to be sure papers are signed, folders are checked, homework is complete and clothes are laid out.  Remember a few minutes preparing in the evening can provide a smooth morning and good attitude to start the day.

8.  Establish a Morning Routine Discuss with kids what is expected in the morning from what time to get up to what has to be accomplished to what time you will head out for the day.  More time is better than too little!  Allow plenty of time to accomplish what needs to be done keeping in mind it never hurts to leave a few minutes early to allow for unexpected traffic or delays.

9.  Designate a Space for “Stuff” Kids come home with a lot of stuff.  Papers can pile up in a hurry, especially with all of the timeless treasures younger children can bring home.  Purchase a folder, binder or bin to collect what is worth keeping and make a habit of throwing away what is not.  This will help to keep you organized and the clutter to a minimum.

10.  Discuss & Don’t Over-do It  Everybody is so “busy”.  Take time before school starts to sit down as a family and discuss activities.  What sports, clubs and activities each person wishes to be a part of.  Don’t over book so that activities that should be enjoyable turn out to be a hassle.  Allow everyone to engage in something they enjoy but not to the detriment of everyone else.  Make wise choices ahead of time as to what is worth your time and energy.

Finally, take a deep breath and jump right in!  Another year is starting whether we are ready or not.  I hope some of these ideas will lead you to a smooth start and successful school year.