Back to School Cool

I don't know about you, but it has already been a hot and hectic summer for me. I'm over it and praying that fall will bring not only cooler and more colorful weather but also a sense of peace. If you're a mom then you're thinking I have officially lost my mind (and I have) if I think I will get any peace from back-to-school season. But truth be told, I love back-to-school! I'm a planner so it allows me to get back to a designated schedule and I get excited about all the possibilities the school year will hold for my kids. I'm also excited that my 4 year old will be going to pre-school for a full day now and high school is encouraging my 15 year old to be more responsible. So how is it you ask, do I plan to gain peace during this trying couple of weeks? I'm going to tell you!

1. Know your dates

Knowing what day your kids go back to school as well as back to school night and any other school activities will help you stay on top of things. Use a designated planner for just your kids where you can keep track of all their school things. Color code your kids if you have to to keep better track. Use a 3-ring binder that gets put in an accessible area where you and the rest of the family can look at schedules and upcoming dates. If you can get your spouse to check it weekly then it will help everyone task out things and stay on the same page.

2. Schedule physicals ahead of time if possible

Most schools these days require annual physicals or wellness checks to make sure your children are well enough to attend school and are up to date on vaccinations. It's always hard to get in during the month of August. See if you can obtain forms from the school or your doctor so that you can schedule appointments earlier. Especially if your child will be playing any sports in the first semester.

3. Order uniforms ahead of time

My daughter attends a school that requires uniforms so I have gotten use to planning a little earlier. Children's Place is one of my go-tos for her age and they are always sold out in stores around back-to-school time. I already know what items and colors she will need so I start looking over the summer for their 50-70% off sales and order a weeks worth of clothes. I also price-check basic under garments like underwear, t-shirts, and socks to see who has the best deals. At the end of the year I also plan on buying more pants because she has usually put holes in the knees and wore out her shoes.

4. Pre-shop some school supplies

Lucky for me, my daughter's school already has a school supply list handy for each year so I wait for sales and buy it then. Sometimes I will start shopping carts online and put the supplies in there to price compare. My son on the other hand has different classes all the time but I know he will need basic writing utensils, comp books, and notebooks. I also will check stores like the dollar store because they always have things on the list and it saves a lot of money! Backpacks are always costly so I watch sales for those too or we will go to the local flea market (my husband loves going so its a win win for me).

Walmart has also been great with obtaining local school's supplies list. Need more options? Try Target's School List Assist!

5. Plan for fees

Every year there are certain things that my husband and I know we need to start budgeting for. Clothes, supplies, extracurricular activities fees, school pictures, meals, and transportation. The more you plan the less surprises there will be.

6. Set a budget for school clothes

Figure out how much you are willing to spend on back-to-school clothes shopping. Shoes and jeans add up quickly and if you live in a state that gets snow, then you have to prep for that as well. Coats are another pricey expense. Start doing some pricing ahead of time. We've learned that shopping for winter clothes in the spring is one of the best ideas for the next year.

7. Plan your route

I took public transportation when I was a kid so my mom would map out the route for me and we'd drive it together so I knew where to go when school started. If you drive the kids yourself then plan out your route the first week of school and figure out your options to make navigating less timely.

8. Ask job in advance for alternate schedule

If your kids don't attend a before and after program at school and you work, chances are you will need to adjust your work hours. Notifying your job ahead of time helps you to prepare better and ease into the adjustments.

9. Update Apps and check website

Both of my kid's schools rely on text messages and school apps to communicate so make sure all your apps are updated for notifications and bookmark their school websites and the school's facebook page.

10. Ask about homework

We have gotten into the habit of asking teachers about how they give out homework so we can ensure our kids are staying on top of it. Yes my 4 year old gets homework (just reading). But my teen is a different case. Most of his teachers don't hand out homework so now we don't have to ask every day "do you have homework?" and look suspicious when he replies no.

Most of this may seem like common sense but in the heat of things, a lot of the details get forgotten. Make it easier on yourself and go through the list above or the checklist version that you can get Here!

With Love,

Micole Elise

#BACKTOSCHOOL #KIDS