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A Smart Start to the Back-to-School Season
The time is approaching when the sound of children splashing in the pool will be replaced with the sound of school bells ringing. Now is the perfect time to prepare your home for the upcoming academic year. Here are some tips to make sure you and your home are school-season ready:
Designate a schoolwork area. Children will have an easier time focusing if they have a designated schoolwork area. Give kids a desk or table where they can complete homework and study for tests. Clear this area from all clutter and use it for school activities only.
Create a home for books and backpacks. It can be tempting for kids to toss their backpack and school supplies on the floor the second they walk in the door, but this can often leave your home looking like a mess. Install hooks low on a wall in your child’s room where they can hang book bags and jackets when they get home after school. Clear off one shelf of a bookcase and place all school supplies here. Buy extra paper, index cards, glue sticks and art supplies, and store them on this shelf.
Purge before purchasing to save closet space. Kids grow quickly and often need new clothes to replace those they have outgrown. The back-to-school season marks an opportune time for a shopping trip. To maximize the bang for your buck, plan your shopping in advance to coincide with store sales. If money is tight this year, call friends who have children close in age to your own. Have a clothing exchange party where kids choose from the gently used clothing of friends or family members. If you plan to save your child’s clothing for a younger sibling to wear, take them out of the closet or dresser and store them out of the way in Space Bag Storage Packs. Space Bag products will protect the stored items from dirt, dust, moisture, mildew, odors and allergens, so they’ll be fresh and ready to go for the next sibling.
Stock up on school supplies. Depending on the age of your child, you may need to take a trip to the office supply store or the craft store to get stocked up for school. Notebooks and pencils are a must at any age and can be bought in bulk to use throughout the year. When choosing book bags, consider buying a backpack with thick shoulder straps rather than a flimsy one-shoulder bag. It will offer more back support for your child later in the year when he or she may be carrying heavy textbooks and lots of homework.
Make final preparations before the first day. Fill your child’s backpack with any paperwork he or she will need to submit to faculty on the first day. If your child had summer reading assignments, include the books and any proof of completion required. You can also include immunization records and proof of enrollment. Pack a lunch or snack the night before to make the morning run more smoothly. If your child plans on eating in the cafeteria, see if the school uses vouchers so that cash is not required.
With some thoughtful preparation, you can guarantee you and your children are organized for the school year!
Source: SchoolFamily.com and The Apartment Finder Blog
