Back to School
Getting organized before the first bell rings
Chances are you’ve noticed the stores putting away the gas grills and Styrofoam coolers and bringing out the erasers and insulated lunch sacks. You may have even heard the first plaintive cry that signals the beginning of the end of summer: “I’m bored.”
Of course all this means the new school year will soon be upon us.
Organization is the key to a successful return to the halls of knowledge for your children. So as the summer dwindles to fall, now is the time to start planning so you can get ’em up, pack those lunches and get ’em learning from the first day forward.
We’ve provided this practical checklist to help you do just that.
Back-to-school fashion show
Try on clothes, keep the keepers, and set aside the rest for donation. Take advantage of those final summer sales to fill any gaps.
Purchase school supplies
Most schools can give you a list of things your child will need for the upcoming year.
Work out transportation details
Determine bus schedules or, if you drive your child to school, do a few morning dry runs to figure out turns and traffic flow.
Complete medical forms
Send any forms requiring a physician’s signature to your doctor’s office as soon as you receive them.
Make babysitting arrangements
If your kids require after-school supervision, double check schedules, rates and payment plans with your babysitter.
Start planning lunches
Pick up an insulated, reusable lunch sack, if you haven’t already and stock up on staples like string cheese and cheese sticks, fruit cups, juice boxes, and granola bars. We’ve included a few more lunch-specific tips below.
Pick a spot for papers
Tell the kids where to place any and all school paperwork when they arrive home. You can keep the school lunch menu and calendar there as well.
Move up the bedtimes
If you’ve pushed back bedtimes during the summer, start pushing them forward a few weeks ahead to get back on track. Do it gradually—15 or 20 minutes a night.
Understand
The first few days will be big period of adjustment for your child. Extra support and encouragement will help a lot.
Packing a lunch that packs a punch
At most schools the actual time kids are given to eat lunch is about 15 to 20 minutes. And that time period holds its share of distractions. So make sure the lunch foods you pack are easy to eat, contain healthy nutrients, and provide quick and lasting energy to get them through the rest of their day.
Keep food cold and safe by packing an ice pack or frozen juice box in an insulated lunch
box. And if you do pack juice, make sure it’s 100% juice. Juice drinks can contain high fructose corn syrup and other harmful or useless ingredients.
String cheese and cheese sticks provide protein and bone-building calcium. Send along crackers or breadsticks to eat with them.
For dessert, toothpicks make fresh-cut fruit more fun to eat. And if you send yogurt, save the containers and wash them. You can use them to make individual, snack-sized desserts later and avoid paying a premium for prepackaged treats.
Finally, when it comes to sandwiches, there’s more to life than peanut butter. Include a variety of protein sources such as tuna, turkey, chicken and ham. Here’s a couple fresh new ways to pull that off.
Ham and Crunch Wrap
Wrap a few slices of ham, a slice of cheese, a lettuce leaf, a tomato wedge, and (here’s what makes it fun) some baked potato chips in a flour tortilla with light mayo. They’ll never trade this one for what is in someone else’s bag.
Sesame String Rolls
Roll string cheese in sesame seeds, then wrap in a slice of turkey and a lettuce leaf and pin with a toothpick.
B.M.T.
Bacon, fresh mozzarella and tomato sandwich. Don’t lose the lettuce, just add a fresh slice of creamy goodness on whole grain bread with light mayo. They’ll love you for this one.
© 2008 Sorrento Lactalis Commercial, Inc. |
