Is Your Home Ready for Another School Year?

You’ve done the back-to-school shopping.  You’ve bought all the supplies your children need.  You have new outfits for school photos.  And you even labeled everything with your child’s name.

But what about your home? Is it ready for another school year?  Just as teacher’s need to prepare the classroom, you should prepare your home for another year of homework and extra-curricular activities.

Here are some tips what you can do to have an organized student.   

PHYSICAL SPACE

·         Provide a quite place for your child to study

·         Provide the supplies necessary for your child to do their homework

·         Make sure their homework area is well-lit and away from distractions

·         Bedrooms should be neat and tidy before bed to create a serene environment for sleep

·         Setting out clothes the night before will ease the stress in the morning

·         Create a space for them to stash their backpack every day when they get home, and every night when their homework is done.  (This can be the same place)

·         Get your child into the routine of emptying their backpack for you every night, and replacing necessary papers before morning.

PHYSICAL FITNESS 

It is important for you child to be healthy and stay healthy for best results throughout the school year.  You can help by doing the following:

·         Make sure your child gets enough sleep

·         Give your child breakfast before school

o        Protein

o        Dairy

o        Fruit

o        Fiber

·         Provide a healthy lunch

o        Protein

o        Dairy

o        Fruit or vegetable

o        Bread/fiber

·         Provide a healthy snack after school

o        Fruit/Vegetables

o        Protein

·         Stock your pantry with healthy snack alternatives.  Desserts should be a treat, not a day-long binge.

·         Water, milk and fruit juice are the best beverages

·         Enroll your child in a physical activity, such as a sport or gymnastics/ballet class (Do not over-do extra-curricular activities—keep to a minimum so your child does not tire out too quickly)

·         Stay on top of your child’s moods and investigate any changes, whether gradual or sudden

·         Take your child in for an annual physical, whether or not the school requires it

·         Read all instructions on packaging before dispensing meds, whether over-the-counter or prescription

·         Praise your child when they do well.  Support them when they falter.

PHYSICAL POSSESSIONS

Stock your cupboards with the basics so you don’t have to run out late at night for supplies.  Keep enough on hand for an emergency, but don’t stock dozens of each.  Keep these items away from the children, so they don’t disappear when you’re not looking.  These should be handed out as needed, otherwise, your children won’t learn the responsibility of keeping track of their own possessions.  If they lose something (especially if it is something expensive like a calculator), make them understand the financial implications of their actions.  They shouldn’t think that everything they lose can be easily replaced.

Here are some items you should always have in the home as extras:

·         Pens, pencils, markers, crayons

·         Pencil sharpener

·         Erasers, correction fluid/tape

·         Tape, glue

·         Stapler, staples, paper clips, binder clips

·         Ruler, protractor, compass, calculator

·         3-hole punch, one-hole punch

·         Folders, binders, notebooks, presentation folders

·         Ruled paper, construction paper, plain paper, note pads

·         Index cards (ruled and plain)

·         Thank-you notes

·         Page protectors

·         Poster board, cardboard

·         Envelopes

·         Scissors

·         CDs for recording, ink for printer

Here are some items you should always have on hand:

·         A family calendar with everyone’s activities mapped out

·         A set of encyclopedias or access to the internet

·         A dictionary and thesaurus

·         A library card

·         A well-stocked medicine cabinet

·         Recreational reading

Copyright 2007, Prima By Design, Inc.