Back-to-School Tips and Tricks!
It’s time to kiss the lazy days of summer goodbye and embrace alarm clocks and homework, school lunches and after-school activities. Yay! And if your first day back to school, or your kids’, was no picnic, let us take some of the stress out of that adjustment with a few back-to-school hacks and tips.
Back to School Sales
August is a big month for clothing sales and it seems like every retailer is hosting a back-to-school sale with big discounts and plenty of allurements to get you in their store and spending your money. JC Penney, Old Navy, Macy’s, Kohl’s (at 4800 Milestone Lane in Castle Rock) and Target (5010 Founders Pkwy) all have sales and for the savvy shopper planning is your best defense against over-spending.
Cynthia, blogging for Organized Home, suggests weeding out all the clothes kids have outgrown or that need to be permanently retired, then drafting a wardrobe needs’ list for each child. The aim is to avoid a morning panic call, “Mom! Dad! I don’t have anything (clean/that fits) to wear!” Cynthia’s free, printable back-to-school checklist is a great way to “get organized, gear up and get out the door!”
For supplies, check out Passion for Savings where you can find new school supplies ads each week with coupons to help you save big bucks. Deal site Offers.com also has revolving pages of current back-to-school deals to help you stock up on all sorts of supplies, gear and clothing for every age student.
Think Inside the Box
Whoever invented the bento box was a genius. Just look at these combo platters for kids: inventive and tasty, with the four food groups like blueberry pancake sandwiches, quinoa and cucumber salads, chocolate chip-speckled bananas and pasta salads with veggies. This collection of creative lunchbox ideas from Parents Magazine will give you two weeks’ worth of mid-day meals for your favorite student, and Catherine at Weelicious offers dozens more!
The Night Before
The best way to be ready for school in the morning is to think ahead and prep the night before. Set the breakfast table as you clean up the kitchen after dinner, help kids lay out what they’re going to wear, make sure backpacks are packed with homework, projects, library books, etc. and positioned near the exit door.
Becky, blogging for Your Modern Family, offers 25 ways to prepare for back to school, including make ahead breakfast ideas and after-school snacks, a DIY homework station for the kids, and a command center to keep all the forms and school papers organized.
Creativity and Kindness
Heading back to a learning environment is a perfect opportunity to start a daily ritual at home to encourage creativity and learning, and to model kind behavior to fight bullying in schools. A recent Ted-Ed blog offers up tips and tricks to help cultivate kindness in and outside the classroom.
For 35 more timely hacks, check out DIY & Crafts for ideas that will help get everyone organized and excited about going back to school!
Back to School in Crystal Valley
Kids who live in the master-planned community of Crystal Valley attend highly-rated Douglas County Schools while living in convenient Castle Rock, with access to an historic small town epicenter! If you’re new to the area, visit the stunning models from D.R. Horton, Kauffman Homes and Richmond American Homes — priced from the low $400s and available in ranch and two-story designs.
