As an MVP Generation Go Ambassador, it’s my duty to share various topics and tips with my readers to hopefully lead a healthy and productive lifestyle. I’ve cover numerous topics ranging from exploring your community and my favorite kid-friendly recipe to finding creative ways for recreation and ways to manage your time wisely all while giving away a $50 VISA Gift Card, thanks to Kids Fun Plaza.
Nice, huh?
Well this week’s topic is Back-to-school. I know in other parts of the country, school has been in session for a few weeks now but here in New York, there’s still time left to get everything that is needed for a productive school year. To be exact, we have 13 days — but who’s counting. 😉
As for us, we’ve been buying school supplies and new clothes little by little. And let me tell you, everything is expensive. I’m a “couponer” so if I don’t see the word “sale” attached to the item or a coupon I could use, I rarely buy it. My kids get upset but they know their mom has a reason to her madness. We’re a one-income family and money can be tight at times so I need to watch what I spend.
This year is tough. All three kids will be attending school full-time as opposed to just two. My son, whose almost 15, will be a 10th grader; my 12-year-old daughter will be a 7th grader and my baby, she’ll be a first grader.
OMGosh, where did the time go? It’s like they were born one day and going to school the next. Time sure does fly by fast.
A few weeks before school starts, I make ground rules for all my children. I need to. If I don’t start a few weeks before school, their internal clock would go haywire and think it’s on summer mode. What parent wants that? I sure don’t.
BEDTIME
I start with a reasonable bedtime for all three — preferably before 9:30-10pm. My little one thinks it’s unfair she gets to go to bed before her brother and sister so the two older kids know when I say it’s “bedtime”, it’s for the both of them to read quietly with their night-light for 30 minutes. It calms them down and most of the time they are knocked out in about 20 minutes.
PLANNING
Every Sunday, it’s their job to empty out their back pack and remove the trash out of their bags. It’s amazing how much garbage accumulates in just one week. My kids need to be diligent about not forgetting their projects or homework they might’ve put on the back-burner. As a mom of 3, I know how things can slip through the cracks so making sure they empty their back packs once a week makes them less-forgetful.
HOMEWORK
It’s the most dreadful part of school for my son. He thinks he can get away with not doing his homework so I make sure he takes a small break, get a drink, eat a small snack and as soon as he’s done, he is to sit at the kitchen table and start on his homework. I believe if my son does nothing for too long, he gets too lazy to pick himself back up to do his homework on his own. My 12-year-old is the total opposite. I rarely have to send her to do her homework. She does it with no problems whatsoever.
SCHOOL BUS
I’m fortunate enough to have all 3 kids picked up right in front of our home. Walking to school is not needed to make sure they get to school on time and I don’t have to worry about driving them either. But I do have to worry about their safety on the school bus. I always tell them to make sure they put on their seat-belts, stay in their seats and don’t distract the driver. It’s difficult to monitor their behavior when I’m not there so they are sure to get a weekly speech from me.
So there you have it — a few of our tips that work for us. It would be really great if you, my lovely readers, would share your best tips for a productive school year.
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GIVEAWAY
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Disclosure: I am an MVP Generation Go ambassador. MVP Has provided me with compensation for this post. The $50 VISA gift card is sponsored by the generous people over at Kids Fun Plaza. My participation is voluntary and my opinions are always my own.
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Talk to them about trying their best and supporting them in their studies
Doing a little school re-fresher before school starts by briefly going over material from the previous year
Set routines for homework, bedtime and wakeup time and stick to them. Prepare yourself with supplies as well.
I started about a week before the first day of back-to-school with getting my son & daughter to bed at their usual school nights bedtime instead of what they had become used to which was staying up later on summer break. Now they’re grown and my daughter is doing this same thing with her little girl who starts 1st grade soon.
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Wake them up an hour before they have to leave the house.
We practice waking up early the week before school starts
My tip is to give them loads of encouragement all the time!
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Try to make sure that they are eating healthy.
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A before bed routine is crucial in our house, we have a chair that we use to set out our clothes and backpacks and projects. There is also a checklist on the refrigerator reminding them to brush their teeth/hair and feed their fish!
back to school tip: Hit the thrift stores & garage sales.
Thanks for the contest.
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Make sure they sleep well so they’re ready for the school day
I think starting to get a set schedule a few weeks before.
Have a discussion about last year’s successes and goals for the new year.
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The best tip is to get them to read books on subjects they’ll be studying in the new school year.
Thanks for the great contest!
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i make sure my kids do homework right after school and i have them get their things ready the night before so they arent running around like crazy in the morning
like you on facebook kathy l pease kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com
mine is to just keep encouraging them through the year.
Thanks for the giveaway…we help them prepare a list of goals.
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
YOU NEED TO GET THOSE BABIES BACK ON A NORMAL SLEEP SCHEDULE….and make sure you tell them how much you love them and will miss them when they are at school!! 🙂
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I always get the boys checked out at the doctor’s office-make sure they are healthy before they play sports!