Getting back into the swing of things at the start of every new school year can be difficult. However, this year may be exceptionally challenging since many students did virtual schooling last year or were only in the classroom for part of the week. Although there may be a few bumps in the road, here are a few things that you can try at home to make your child's school year more successful:
Meal Prepping
Cut down on your morning duties by meal prepping your child's breakfast and lunch at the start of the week. It may seem like a lot of work, but you'll be able to eliminate some of your morning stress if both meals are packed away in Tupperware containers and ready to grab and go.
When you think of meal prepping, you may think of fitness gurus with their boiled chicken, broccoli, and rice. However, meal prepping doesn't have to be boring; check out these five back-to-school lunch ideas for some inspiration.
Not only does meal prepping save you time, but it can also save you money. Instead of forking out money for school lunch every day, make a lunch budget and buy meal prepping items that fit within it.
Designate a Specific Homework Space
Like us after work, when kids get home from a long day of school, they're ready to clock out. And giving them some free time to play or unwind is a great idea. However, at some point in the night, they have to refocus themselves for homework time. A good way to get them back into that school mindset and help homework time become more successful is to create a designated homework space.
Now, I'm not saying you have to become Joanna Gaines and turn a spare closet into a homework nook or anything crazy. Just find a space where you can get your child into the right state of mind to do their work, have easy access to their school supplies, and eliminate distractions. Whether this means you have a rolling cart/box with school supplies that you bring to the kitchen table or set up a special space for them somewhere in your home, pick a place and stick to it. Putting in good work at home will help them be more successful in the classroom.
Plan A Full Week's Worth of Outfits
We've all been there; you're ready to head out the door in the morning and can't find the shoes you were going to wear, or you have an outfit all planned out in your head, and it just doesn't look the same once you put it on. Rushing around to get ready at the last minute can be stressful and cause you to be late. If you can't tell by now, I find that planning things in advance is a great way to alleviate stress and chaos. As a kid, my mom made us pick out our clothes for every day of the week on Sunday night; that way, when we got up to get ready each morning, we didn't have to waste time searching for an outfit. If you have children at the age where you still pick out their clothes, this is something small you can do at the beginning of the week to cut down on wasted time each morning. If your kids are picking out their own clothes, this encourages them to take time and be creative with their style, instead of throwing something on quickly and rushing out the door.
Set Aside Time to Read Before Bed
No matter how old your child is or what time they go to bed, make sure to set aside some time for reading. If you have a small child, read with/to them. If you have an older child, make sure they put down the phone, turn off the tv, and dive into a good book.
If you're tired of the books that you have at home, head to your local library and get a free library card. With your library card, you can check out up to 50 items at a time, so stock up while you're there so you'll have a variety to choose from each night. You can also check out eBooks on the library app and read them on your phone, tablet, or kindle.
By taking just a few extra steps at home, you can make sure this school year is the best one yet!
