7 Tips to Survive Back to School

It's that time of year for students to return to the classroom! I wanted to share some unique ideas for you parents to make the start of this school year one to remember! I want to encourage you to start a tradition; make it your own. It is never too late to make memories with your kiddos. 
Here are just a few ideas, but I want to encourage you to share your ideas below as a comment for other parents and also on any of our social media.

1. First Day Photo. I started this tradition with my daughter, Grace when she started Kindergarten and have continued it with our son Jackson. The article photo was taken in 2015. There are several sites on the Web that offer free printables. Find one that best fits your kiddos. You can use Office Depot, FedEx, and other printing retailers to easily and affordably print your posters. I also take them to school and have a photo made with their teacher and I also leave the poster if the teacher wants to take photos with other kids in the class!

This year I found a great twist on the First Day of Pictures! In a yearly tradition,  Alabama mom Keshia Gardner takes photos of her kids heading back to school. But in 2016, instead of the typical photos of them in brand new outfits, getting on the school bus, Gardner does something a little unconventional — she includes herself in the shot, jumping for joy, as the kids stand in the background.

Gardner recently posted the photo series to Facebook, pairing the images with an equally funny caption: "Happy 1st day at school, kids! I'll miss y'all!" Hoping to give other moms a laugh, she encouraged her followers to share the photos, and they've quickly gone viral. You can check out Keshia's photo along with other hilarious first day of school photos HERE Are you and your kids game? If yes, please post your first day pics on our Macaroni Kid Tri-Cities Facebook page!

2. Lunch Box Ideas. 

• Lunch Box Letters: I first saw this idea on the Today Show where they had a parent and child on the show and for 12 years the mom included handwritten...yes, handwritten notes in her daughter's lunch box every, single day! The daughter had kept all the letters in a keepsake box. There are actual books published on how to write encouraging lunch box letters and there are several ideas as well on Pinterest. I want to encourage you to take some time and include a handwritten note from you occasionally. You can mix it up with handwritten notes and printables. 
• Bento Box: Now, I will admit, I am very fortunate for the second year in a row for my children to enjoy free breakfast and lunch through a grant with their school system.  However, I am always looking for different, healthy, but tasty snacks for both my picky kids.  First, you need to start with your box. What exactly is a Bento Box? One person defined it perfectly by stating "it’s all about treating your lunch with a bit of tender love, and injecting it with some fun and variety. (And you know, you can call it a lunch box instead of a bento too! It’s all about the substance really). Here is one option on Amazon and one at Bed, Bath and Beyond. You can find several varieties online. Pinterest in full of Bento Lunch ideas.  Here is just one of many examples. Remember the key is to keep your child's personality in mind and make it fun! Use your dry erase board (tip #4) to plan out your kid's lunches daily. You may even try to meal prep on Sunday! Check out Chef Mom's website for easy and delish recipes for any picky eater!

3.  Back to School Teacher Gift. We have two teachers in our family and I know how much time, energy and their own personal money is spent on their students, resources, and classrooms so I do believe in giving them small gifts of appreciation for all their hard work. Even our teachers need encouragement at the start of the school year.  I love this cute idea with small gifts.  We did the "Tickled Pink" as an end-of-the-year gift last year, but could also be used to start off the new year. 

4. Command Center/Homework Station. Create a Family Command Center with a dry erase board calendar,  wall hanging file holders for important papers and keepsake papers, a little basket to hold pens and paper, some magnets and maybe a giant picture of our family. You know... bring it all together in one area of the house. Add some coat hooks and voilà! The best part is you can customize this area so it's exactly what your family needs. I love this home organization creation from one of our homeschool mamas at our Duck Tape Maker Party.  She upcycled empty tin cans into an organization caddy for her kids' scissors, pencils, crayons, markers, etc. She decorated each can with Duck Tape and brought all the cans together with Duck Tape.  You can watch the video on our YouTube Channel HERE.  I also like this blogger's portable homework station.

5. Organize Clothing. I did better last year picking out my kids clothes the night before, but I love The Krazy Coupon Lady's idea of using a hanging organizer to plan out an entire week of clothes. You can this great idea plus more in her blog article HERE. 

6. Sleep Schedule/Bedtime Routine. One of the fun parts of summer for kids is getting to stay up late and sleep in. That first day of school can be a very rude awakening if kids aren't gradually put back on a school sleep schedule. The week beforehand, start enforcing an earlier bedtime, even just 5-10 min earlier at a time, and then gradually back it up to the desired bedtime a few days before school actually starts. Also, start using the bedtime routine you'd like to use during the school year. (We usually brush teeth, read books for a bit, and then up to bed.) Use the same idea for the mornings. If you'll need to get your child up earlier than they usually sleep to, then start waking up them up a few minutes earlier each day. It will take some time for kids to re-adjust to the new sleep routine, but they will!

7. Do's & Don'ts for Buying School Supplies. Confirm your child's school supply list for their grade and school. Every school and grade supply list is different. Some teachers will even list the brand name of the product to purchase.  I have five scissors (still in their packaging) I purchased two years ago for a great price, but every year a specific brand name of scissors is listed.  

Set a Budget. Once you have your list, stick to the list and set a budget. This is the obvious, most important, not always easy defense against back-to-school overspending. For older tweens and teens, you might hand over a set amount for clothing or new electronics and let them choose how to spend it. One full-price item or several sale items? Skimp on clothes and splurge on a bag? Refurbished versus new? You’d be surprised at how thrifty a teen can be when it’s his or her own money. Don't forget Tax-Free Weekend. Tennessee's weekend is coming up starting July 28 and Virginia's weekend is set for August 4. Follow our Tax Free Weekend Facebook Event discussion HERE. 

Determine Need versus Want. Not always the stress-free time to do this, but honestly the best method to teach this important value to your kids.  Teach your kids that the idea is to buy what they truly need, not what they simply want. Spending wisely and eliminating wasteful purchases is an Earth-friendly, family-riendly policy. Use this shopping experience to establish good, lifelong financial habits. And don’t forget: Be a role model!
Watch Weekly Store Ads to Plan Your Purchases. I literally spread my shopping over the entire month of July and into August. Lately, stores spread out their great back to school savings over sevreal weeks. Especially Target, Office Depot, Staples, Walgreens and more.  Make a point to search store ads on Sunday to see who is running the best deals.  When you have to buy 18 glue sticks, know who has the best deal (I bought mine this week at Walgreens on sale for $3.49 for a 6-pack AND they were buy-one-get-one-free)! 

Don't Negotiate. Your budget is firm. Do not allow your kid any wheeling and dealing at the checkout line.  If you’re afraid you might cave, leave your credit card at home and shop with cash. And no IOUs. If your daughter or son promises to “pay half” for more expensive items, don’t agree unless he or she has the money on hand.

Again, I know the best ideas come directly from you, our MK moms and dads so please share ideas, photos, stories with each other! Every child is different, so create and work the plan that best fits your child and family.   

Amanda