The summer can often equate to two months of relaxing and junk food, so when September comes around, parents often find themselves a little lost when sending their kids back to school. Parenting expert Kathy Buckworth shared five things you need to know to make back to school prep as easy as 1-2-3.
Organization is key: Don’t leave it until the week before school to think about back-to-school shopping. If you slowly think about organizing in late July/early August, the stress on shopping for everything is drastically reduced.
Making lunches doesn’t have to be stressful: Start your kids early on in making their own lunches – even as early as grade one, Buckworth recommends. Use the summertime to teach your kids how to get started. Make it fun by getting out of the old sandwich rut. English muffins, pitas, and tortillas are great when it comes to diversifying the lunches your kids are heading off to school with.
Finances should be taught at an early age: Buckworth recommends paying your kids for doing chores from an early age. It gets them handling money and understanding the value of the dollar from the get-go. It teaches the valuable lesson that you need to work for your rewards.
Remember to get your kids vaccinated: Make a trip to the doctor to make sure your kids are up-to-date on all their vaccinations. Schools and daycares often send kids home for not being caught up on their required shots.
Clear out the knapsacks and lunch bags: Take out whatever school supplies you can salvage as purchasing them brand new every year can add up. Make a note of what you have and what you need to purchase, so that when you go back-to-school shopping, you breeze through knowing you’re only purchasing the necessities.
What back to school tips do you feel everyone needs to know? We want to know! Share them with us in the comments below.