Back to School Tips

I can’t believe that it is back to school time already. It seems like summer just started, but on Monday the kids will all be back in school. With school comes crazy schedules, lots of activities, homework, busy mornings, and at the beginning of the year a decent amount of chaos. It can take a little while for everyone to get back into the routine. Today we are going to go through a few tips and tricks, so hopefully you can start the school year off right!

First, if you are a family that throws routine and bedtimes out the window for the summer, start re-introducing bedtime a week or so before school starts. That way when the alarm clock goes off the first day, they are ready for it. My son needs a bedtime and a certain amount of sleep to function each day. So for us, we just push bedtime up by 10 minutes each night until we are back at the school year bedtime.

Mornings can be pure chaos sometimes. But there are a few things you can do to make them a lot easier. Breakfast is one of them. If you have something that is easy for the kids to prepare on their own, then you can focus on other things. Jimmy Dean® Pancakes & Sausage on a Stick is something that my son loves. I don’t have time to make pancakes and sausage before school, are you kidding me?! So he can just take these out of the freezer, microwave and eat. I can cut up some fruit, give him yogurt and milk and he has fuel for school! I like to stock with freezer with a few things that I know my son will eat. It is so easy to pick up while I am at Walmart doing my shopping. Plus while I am there I can grab pencils and other stuff he needs for school. All in one place, and I know that I am getting a great deal!

I also have my son pick out what he is going to wear the night before. I imagine if you have girls, this is even more important. Lay it out, so you are ready to just get up and get dressed. We also look at the lunch menu for the week over the weekend, so each day we know exactly what is happening ahead of time. Sometimes when I am making dinner, I will prep lunches for the next day. I am already in the kitchen, and have some of the stuff out, so why not get ahead of the game. That way in the morning, it is just assemble and we are out the door.

After school can be just about as chaotic as before school. Depending on the day we might have a friend over, if there isn’t a lot of homework, or a practice of some kind. But no matter what, my 10 year old comes home from school hungry! State Fair® Classic Corn Dogs make for a great after school snack. You can microwave them quickly, cut into bite size pieces and dip away. Cut up an apple and my son is fueled until dinner time. He can focus on homework and then move onto the more fun things; like playing outside.

As soon as homework is done, I like to organize and get the backpacks ready for the next day. Permission slips, money, homework, and anything else is packed in the right spot, so the next morning we can just grab it and go. We don’t have to run around wondering where a math sheet, or planner is.