A couple of weeks ago, I saw school supplies in stores. My first thought was: “Arrghh! It’s only July!” But then I started thinking about some of the things that I want to buy for the kids, and some of them take a little bit of time.
So here is my list of 10 things to prepare for back to school.
1. How many times have you sent your child to school with ten freshly sharpened pencils and then a week later they can’t find a pencil? Personalized pencils are available at quite a reasonable price. You could get a set of pencils with your child’s name on it. They should be less likely to end up on someone else’s desk. Or how about a nickname, favorite quote, or inside joke that will make your child smile? There are also fun pencils like scented Smencils or Swarovski Crystal pencils. Speaking of pencils, how about a fun pencil sharpener like these shaped like a nose?
2. If your child uses the computer for reports or projects at school and at home, a USB stick can help them keep their work in progress with them. They even make some that look like monsters, robots, or animals.
3. Get a globe and a map of the United States for your house. It amazes me how often my kids refer to these. It’s not just when it’s time to do homework either. A question will pop up on a game show and the kids will run to the map to find the answer. It also helps children put things together. They can touch a globe and see how a flat map of the US fits with it. You can even go as far as getting a map of your community so they can see your house, school, the grocery store, and other places you frequently visit.
4. Get a wall calendar for your house and mark important dates for everyone to see. My favorite is the Boynton Mom calendar. Start with the school calendar. Write down the first day of classes, vacations and minimum days. Add sports times and game dates. When the teacher asks your child to bring something to school on a certain date, ask him to mark it on the calendar. When your child asks if he can make plans for Tuesday after school, send him to the calendar to see if he’s free. This is the beginning of them managing your time, instead of you.
5. To plan. Schools are using planners for younger and younger children, and it’s a great idea. Long before they have to manage homework for six different classes, they get used to writing their homework in their planner every day. If your school sells planners at orientation or in the classroom, buy that one. It’s easier to use the same planner that everyone else uses. If your school doesn’t make planners in an organized way, you may want to think about getting a planner for your child anyway.
6. Lunch supplies. He starts thinking about what you’re going to make for lunches. Are you going to send them to school with their lunch, give them money every day, or buy lunch tickets? Start stocking up on lunch boxes and Ziplocs. What kind of things will you need for lunches? Make a grocery list (or better yet, have your kids make a grocery list) for the week before school starts. If your child is getting used to being out at lunchtime, perhaps you could get a cute notepad to write a little note to put in your child’s lunch each day.
7. Set a place for homework. Children need a homework routine that includes a quiet place to do homework. Ponder this over before school starts. Is it easier to do homework at the kitchen table where you can supervise? Or are younger children who have already finished their homework distracting children who still have work to do? Can you set up a desk in his room? If they do homework at daycare, make it a routine for the children to show you what they have done. You can compare it to the planner and see if there is anything they need help with.
8. Establish a routine for the documents that must be sent to you. My least favorite part of school is when I’m getting everyone ready and one of them announces that they need to bring (fill in the blank) to school today. Of course, it’s usually something I need to go to the store for, and somehow I never got the notice. So, as part of the homework, your child must put everything that is supposed to go to you in a specific place.
9. Novels and textbooks. Younger children are often expected to read for a certain number of minutes each night as part of their homework. For children in the upper grades, teachers will sometimes give them a reading list at the beginning of the year. If you’re the first to act on your block, you may be able to find these novels at a used bookstore. Another option is to order them online. If you order books worth a certain dollar amount, you can sometimes get free shipping. If you’re almost at that magic number, consider asking for another copy of something for the teacher to have as a spare.
Middle school and high school students often have to lug heavy textbooks back and forth every day. If you can get the ISBN number of a textbook, you can buy a copy to keep at home. If you can get it used, the cost can be very reasonable. Start with the math book, because there is math homework almost every night. This also avoids the ever-popular “I can’t do my homework because I didn’t bring my book home.”
10. Transportation plan. How are the children going to get to and from school? If they’re old enough to ride a bike this year, it’s time to make sure the tires and air have a bike lock and a properly fitting helmet. If you are going to carpool, start calling other parents to set up a time.
Teachers always have lists of required school supplies. You may be able to get most of the information up front on your school’s website or in your office. The afternoon of the first day of school is a terrible time to go shopping. The stores are running out of things and the lines are long. If you can, pick up the essentials from now on, while they’re on sale. When you see 19-cent bookmarks or dime folders, get 3 times what your child will need. They will need to replenish their supplies during winter and spring break, and prices won’t be as low at that time. You might also think about getting some extras to give to the master when you see a deal that’s too good to pass up.