August means end-of-summer barbeques, hot weather, and long, lazy days. But it also means Back-to-School Time! Don’t let the worry of school days take away from your late summer fun. The best way to avoid the stress is to be prepared:
-With the help of your kids, make lists of essentials. What has to be replaced from last year? School supplies, backpacks, school clothes/uniforms, and lunchboxes should all be evaluated. If they need replacement, shop local store ads and online for the best deals.
-August is the time for deals on all sorts of school supplies! Consider which things you will need multiples of and buy them on sale now. Notebook paper, pencils, crayons, spiral notebooks and highlighters can be purchased in bulk while on sale and kept in a “school supply” closet. No need to run to the store when a school project comes up in the Fall!
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Be sure everyone has tried on their school shoes and clothes. Kids seem to grow by leaps and bounds over the summer! Don’t wait until the last minute to find those replacements.
-Designate a specific area for each child’s supplies. Use a shopping bag or shelf labeled for each child so everything is ready for the first week — No Stress!
-Talk to the kids now about what you expect during the school year: Do they need to lay out their school clothes every evening (let’s avoid the early morning “lost sock” hunt!)? Do backpacks have a special hook/shelf so they aren’t scattered around the house? What is the after school routine (snack/homework/sports)? If everyone knows the plan, the school day routine goes smoother and stress free!
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Be sure your children have all the necessary vaccines, checkups and paperwork required for school and sports teams. Call now for those appointments as they fill up fast!
When you’ve taken all that off the list, go back to enjoying the last few days of summer. You’ll enjoy them so much more when you are ready for the new school year!
