Add Variety to Lunch

Don't forget to keep a good selection of treats and snacks around for you kids.

Kids can get bored with the same thing day after day, so remember to try to keep it interesting.

Morning Madness

Every morning you have the same battle. You are trying to get everyone out the door and it is really hard to keep everyone on task and ready to get out the door.

An easy resolution is to find an alarm clock that has a snooze button on it. Set the alarm for 10 minutes before you need to walk out the door and place it in the kitchen.

Now in the morning when the alarm goes off, everyone know that they have 10 minutes to get their supplies for the day and get out the door. Hit the snooze button and when the alarm goes off the second time, it is time to go.

(Please double check the instructions for your clock. Some clocks may have a different snooze time than 10 minutes, adjust your exit time accordingly)

Hot Lunches

You have some wide mouthed insulated containers that you use for soup for lunches, but you can't always think of a soup to put in it.

Why limit the choices to soup? I will make up a can of the current favorite spaghetti or ravioli and place in the container. I will reserve any leftovers for a later date.

Want something different?

Place some rice in the container with your favorite topping.

How about some home made spaghetti or alfredo?

The options are endless for a not so boring lunch!

Silly Sack Lunches

When you are packing lunches for the kids, have a little extra fun! Write down a joke or drop a clipping from the comics into their lunch. It will give them something to smile about and share at school.

For your spouse or older kids, (even though they might still like comics....) pick up a page a day calendar for a topic that they might like, or a puzzle book/word find book. Each day drop a page in their lunch for a change of pace with the lunch break.

Morning Madness

Every morning it is the same routine, where is the homework, where are the papers for school, did you get the project? Here is a quick and easy way that you can have everything ready to go in the morning so all you have to do is walk out the door.

If bedtime is normally 9pm, start them off about 8:30. This time is used to collect homework or assignments, books, projects, etc and place them in their backpack. Once everything is pulled together place it in the car.

Next have them find the shoes and coat that they are going to wear the next day and place on a hook next to the door.

You can even go as far as to mostly pack the lunch for the next day.

Now when you get up in the morning all you have to do is wake everyone up, get them dressed and fed, finish up the lunch and out the door.

Once the routine is set and everyone is in the groove, offer a special treat of reading an extra chapter of their story, or an extra few minutes of a special activity if they can get everything ready for the next day in less than the half an hour allowed.

Too Much Information!

Before the first day of school, make a master list of Mom and Dads phone numbers along with doctors and emergency numbers. You will probably need these several times when completing paperwork.

Also order up some tags with pertinent information from www.crewtags.com. Make sure that you get enough for lunch bags, backpacks, gear bags and music cases. Believe me, all the bags and cases look the some once they get mixed in at school!

Check Lists for School

If your child has specific items that they need for each sport or activity, make a check list of items easily forgotten and hang it in an obvious place or attach it directly onto a bag. Now when it is time to head off you can take a quick peek inside the bag and make sure that everything that your child will need is in it.

You can also go online and make up a luggage tag from www.crewtags.com and list the items that will be needed in the bag before it is taken to the activity.

Chasing Change

Grab a couple of rolls of change the next time that you are at the bank. Leave an honor jar out and within easy reach so that you don’t have to go scrabbling for change at the last minute for lunches or snacks.

If you know that lunches are $3 each, you can also stock it with enough money for the week. Let the kids know that when the money is gone, it is gone for the rest of the week.

I keep my jar of change in the laundry room. When I do wash any spare change I toss in.

Back Packs & Lunch Boxes

Don’t skimp on the back pack and lunch box. These items are used and abused every day. By spending the money on a good brand name that may even have a warranty, you will save in the future by not having to replace as often.

Once again, let your kids pick out he color or style, that way they won’t get “lost” on the first day.

Make sure that your child understands the operation of the pack and the lunch box before they make it to school and find out that they are unable to operate it for some reason.

Check zippers and pouches frequently for tears or holes.

Stocking Up

Most of us were raised with mom’s who stocked up on supplies.

It is wise to also implement these practices with items other than food.

When it is time for back to school, stock up on some extra supplies while the prices are cheap.

You can use them around the house, or you will have spare’s in case something gets lost of used up at school.

Also stock up on seasonal items as they go on sale.

You can often find things that will weather storage well, and you can use them the next season for gifts or prizes.

School Day Madness

If you are tired of constantly having the hassle of finding books and reports before school make a designated homework center.

This can be a place where your kids can do their homework and leave it for the next day for school.

Make sure that it is well stocked with paper, pencils, crayons and within easy access of a computer.

You will not want it near a TV or any other forms of distraction if at all possible.

Doing "Home-Prep" Work

While your kids are doing homework, take this time to do some homework of your own.

These little items will help your mornings go much quicker, and you can retain some sanity!

Check with each child and see if they have any activities or projects due, do they have any games that they need special clothes for the next day.

Are the clothes/uniforms clean?

Start packing up the lunches and do as much prep work as you can so that all you have to do is throw everything together in the morning rush.

Once the kids are done with their homework place it back in their bags after reviewing and have the bags place in a specified location each night.

Do the same with your own items.

Get in a habit of leaving your keys and/or briefcase in the same place every night. That way in the morning you know where everything is.

Now you won't be searching for hours looking for keys or homework in the morning.

Medical Meeting Before School Starts

If you have a child that has medical concerns, make an appointment with the school nurse before school starts if possible.

Make sure that you bring in all physician documentation and the child. This way the school nurse will be un-rushed and will be able to hear all of your concerns.

Make sure to leave any extra medication with the school nurse if it will be given at school.

Relieve Back to School Stress

Don’t forget that kids can stress out easily over change. Try not to plan any big trips or events the week before school starts.

You can use this time to work with your child in getting prepared for the shift in schedules.

You can use this time also for scheduling annual exams and making sure that your childrens shots are up to date.

School Clothing Madness

Do you get tired of your kids coming to you at the last minute because something is not clean for school?

It is hard to train them to do what you need, but this one will be worth it in the end.

Have them lie out the outfits that they will need the next day.

This will include any uniforms for activities or sports also.

That way you can get any last minute laundry done or make other arrangements instead of stressing at the last minute as you are trying to get everyone out the door.

Buying Scissors for School

Shopping for school supplies is the one trip that to the store that we dread. There are so many choices!

Which supplies are the best?

Here is some thoughts on getting the correct scissors.

When shopping for scissors for your grade school aged child, don't decide to go on the cheap and get a pair of plastic scissors.

They will not perform well in day to day use and you will end up replacing them more often.

Try to find a good pair of multipurpose scissors that aren’t too dull or too sharp.

Usually scissors that are made for both right or left handed kids are a good choice.

Buying Supplies

When buying supplies for your kids, you will have a better chance of them using them if they have a choice in the matter.

Let them at least pick out a color scheme that they would like or design. Now when it is time to take the items to school, they will be more likely to use them and may actually remember which items are theirs because they picked them out.

Don’t forget to write their names in permanent marker to help keep them from getting lost too!

Shopping for School Supplies

Aargh! I know that you really don't want to think about this right now as summer is just getting started, but soon it will be time to get ready for school again!

To help it go a bit easier, this tip will help save you some frustration when shopping for school clothes.

Get a copy of your kids school rules and regulations regarding dress code before you go shopping for school clothes.

Now when you go shopping you will know exactly what is expected at their school.

It is really frustrating to buy clothes that your child will not be able to wear because of verbiage or style.