*I work with Walmart as an affiliate marketer and was asked to share their back to school video collection with my readers and was compensated for my writing and am required by FTC to disclose this here.*
I took many classes over the years in school, but never one to teach me some surefire back to school tips.
Class is now in session and pull up a chair to get schooled in Back to School Tips 101 now with me!
See back to school is occurring right now for many across the country. Here in NY, we have another three weeks of summer vacation left, but back to school is indeed looming for us and definitely on the horizon. So, I am realizing I am in true need of all the back to school tips that I can get for my own gang now.
As yet much as I love summer, I know fall and back to school is approaching. This past week, I have gotten the official letters for both my girls for back to school orientations and new teacher assignments. I also got well-checkups & dental appointments completed, and new sneakers purchased, too. We even bought new school backpacks and lunch boxes, as well.
But I still have so much more to do in these next three weeks to get us in gear and not much more I can do, but prepare for the new school year with back to school tips and tricks.
Walmart has the solution, on so many fronts, for back to school tips for all with their new back to school tips video collection to help all those parents and kids alike in need pretty much covering all age groups from kindergarten right through college, too with back to school tips.
I found some back to school tips inspiration from them while surfing the internet and am sharing my top 3 (yes just 3!) back to school tips today that I gained from viewing their awesome back to school videos.
My Top 3 Back to School Tips:
Back to School Tips 1: Routine, Routine, Routine
I guiltily admit my girls have been going to bed rather late this past summer and bedtime has gone out the window with us. I have been lax as they haven’t had to get up in the morning for 2 months for anything really.
So, now with September and back to school in the air, I am starting these next few weeks to get the girls back on a routine and schedule for going to bed, as well as for mornings, too for the first of my back to school tips.
Emma will be in kindergarten and need to be on the bus by 8:30 in the morning. She usually isn’t too bad in the morning getting up, but still one small thing sets her off and we can set off a chain of events that could totally make us late.
Lily, who is not and never been a morning person, will be going to morning pre-school this year to prepare her too for the big show of kindergarten. See, I would rather have the morning battles with her in pre-school then when she finally enters elementary school for the first time (to be honest I hope not to have too many morning issues, but let’s be honest this is Lily and I fully expect it).
Also, decided we will pick out outfits in the evening before bed, so that we don’t have any early morning debates on what to wear, because with girly girls this is a must!
I figure if the girls know going in what is expected of them now with the routine and even chores with possibly a chore chart, then we get in shape earlier rather then later for the upcoming school year with indeed the first of my back to school tips.
Back to School Tips 2: Meal Time Readiness
I am deciding now what the girls will be eating for their meals now, such as healthy breakfast, lunch, snacks and possibly even dinner, too.
I might be a bit less crazed about dinner, because we eat it together for the most part and like the meals we have in our rotation, but I am always willing to add if I find a few new good recipes.
So, back to school tips # 2 is to make sure I am fully prepared for all the upcoming meals for this school year.
See, I need better options for the morning startups with some better on the go options for breakfast like these Emerald Smores Breakfast On the Go packages for both the girls and myself, because let’s face it, we will most likely have only a short time to get ready and out the door. So, these look perfect to me!
As for lunch, the girls already have their lunch boxes (think Frozen with my little addicts!). But we need some great additions to their lunch boxes. I actually just found out Lily will need to bring her own snack for pre-school and was thinking maybe good old fashioned low fat chocolate milk by Nesquik or even Capri Sun Juice boxes. As for snack, I am thinking maybe Vanilla and Chocolate Snack Pack Pudding Cups, because what kid doesn’t like pudding, even my picky eater Lily loves her fair share of pudding!
Back to School Tips 3: Be Organized with Storage and Labeling:
Many schools already make you purchase back-to-school supply kits through them. Emma’s elementary school included this option and I took it.
But I know am going to need to be organized as far as what we keep here at home, such as artwork that she and Lily both make and even making sure to label their supplies and clothing that I send in.
Back to school tips # 3 is to indeed get more organized with how I store and label the girls’ school stuff.
So, I have purchased clear storage bins for each girl to be able to store all that they need from crafts, projects and work they do at school. And I also have extra labels and sharpie markers on hand to label all that I send in with them, including clothing, which I have been instructed by the school to make sure everything I send in is indeed clearly labeled.
Also, for my mommy brain issues of forgetfulness, I have I need to keep better tabs on the paperwork coming home for me to keep track of what is coming up on the calendar at both their schools and even any papers that need immediate attention with my John Handcock signature. I decided to use a pocket letter sized organizer so I won’t lose anything and keep track of all on my end for my girls this year.
To see more videos on Back to School Tips 101 courtesy of Walmart, please click here.
I figure if these few steps are taken now to indeed organize and get us on a better schedule, we will totally be that much better off when we do go back to school in the next few weeks and hope these back to school tips will help you and your kids, too. Now that you have indeed been schooled in Back to School Tips 101, will you pass or fail for the year – time will tell!
NJ @ A Cookie Before Dinner says
Malone starts school the Thursday after Labor Day. We’ve thought about getting a routine together before hand, but we’re going to be on Cape Cod visiting MIL the week of Labor Day. I think we’ll just squeeze in the last bit of summer then and pray things go okay once school starts. He’s pretty reliable about getting up at 7:00 and we could be out the door at 7:30 if we needed to. I think, however, that he’s going to be starting closer to 9:00 am, which will give us plenty of time in the morning.
Great idea to pick out outfits the night before. When I was a kid, my mom and I picked out all of the outfits for the week on Sunday night. She hung them in one of those hanging sweater organizers (including the tights and bows). She was super organized!
Rosey says
All great tips. We send pudding for the class snack, and you’re right, it’s a huge hit.
Rosey says
Ha! I stick pudding in hubby’s lunch sometimes, and he loves it too. 😀
Jhanis says
We don’t have Walmart here and we are on our 3rd month of the school year but these are great tips! Breakfast can be a challenge in our house so food on the go is a great idea. I cannot count the number of days that I’m feeding a kid with a sandwich or a fruit on the way to school! Ugh.
Diane Roark says
Janine,
My son started his senior year of High school yesterday. He is in a private school. My daughter starts 7th grade on Monday. She is in Public school. I also homeschool my special needs son and my oldest daughter left for her second year in medical school last week. I would totally agree with all your tips. My youngest daughter is Organizing her Notebook and school supplies for Monday as we speak. Today, I plan on planning meals for next week. With meet the teachers for my daughter, Casey playing his senior year of football, football parent meeting, and I am sure I am forgetting a few other activities this week it will be a busy week. I totally agree! PLAN AND BE ORGANIZED! It never hurts for everyone to go to bed on time either.
Thanks for sharing,
Diane Roark
Echo says
Fantastic tips, Jhanis! Organization and planning are the key!
Echo says
Ha! I meant Janine!!!!!!!!!
Curse Jhanis for commenting first and confusing me so early in the morning! =P~
Carrie Groneman says
GREAT tips for school shopping and keeping organized. Wish I would have had these tips when my kids were in school. Great job Janine! Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Bill says
I am breathing a sigh of relief that I no longer have to be concerned with Back to School. LOL Great tips my friend. NOw the weekend is here and it is time to enjoy the remaining summer days.
Tara Newman says
Ugh Janine! I have been putting off my back to school post hoping that this would stop it from happening. I’m not ready! That being said, I agree with your tips for sure. We are BIG on routine and structure in my house. Thankfully my kids are in camp full time so it helps to keep the routine. And YES – Label ALL THE THINGS!
April says
School starts on Monday and I’ve already done all of his school shopping. I told myself that I would develop a clean routine for all involved. Thanks for sharing! I’ll check out your video too!
Amber says
Great tips, thank you!
Stephanie @ Life, Unexpectedly says
We’ve actually started picking outfits the night before a school day a while ago, and it’s so much easier, except if the weather turns out to be a lot different than the forecast said and we have to change Violet’s outfit on short notice. Usually, she’s pretty upset by that! We usually give the girls granola bars, little sandwiches, or fruit as snacks to kindergarten, just need to make sure that the lunch boxes are clean and ready to use each morning. And thanks for reminding me of labeling. Still need to take care of Lily’s school supplies. Looking forward to the girls going back to school as well 🙂 Thanks for the tips!
Lisa @ The Golden Spoons says
Good tips! My girls have one more week of summer, then it’s back to school! I really need to work on our breakfast options and cut out some of the carbs & sugar.
Kim says
So many great tips – you have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks – it really is an exciting time!!!
Amanda @ Growing Up Madison says
Those are definitely some great tips and it wasn’t until I came to Colorado that I got to experience what it was like shopping at Walmart since there was none around NYC. Well except at Green Acres and I don’t go there. 🙂 I will actually be going to finish stocking up on school supplies since I still haven’t done all my school supply shopping.
Camille says
The first week of Kay going to preschool was downright ugly. Thrashing, screaming to stay in bed, the works. But you’re right, routine is everything, and she got used to it. 🙂 I hope she adjusts to full day Kindergarten just as fast!!
Great tips and thanks for sharing! I really need to start thinking about meal planning…
Tamara says
Oh we fell so far off the wagon this summer! And that’s ok. That’s summer, but we do need to ease back in sooner rather than the night before school.
Scarlet is in for it with full day kindergarten. Oh boy. She’ll be exhausted!
Routine and meal prep are very important!
Dana says
These are all great tips, Janine. I did a lot of this when the kids were younger. Now I take them to the grocery store with me to stock up on breakfast and lunch foods, and attempt to get them to bed by 10 pm the week before. 6:15 am is still going to come much too soon!
Aunt Gloria says
I can’t believe it’s time for back to school planning! You give some good tips here Janine. It will make the transition easier I’m sure. Looking forward to seeing you one day soon. Keeping busy here. Love…..xxxxxooooo
The Pinterested Parent says
THese are great tip Janine. Mai is only just starting daycare & this applies to that too. Routine in all things is essential. We need to try to pull back her bed times to get her ready for her early rise times.
Seana Turner says
Great tips as always, Janine. Of course, I’m a big fan of routine, routine, routine. It works so well because it reduces the number of decisions you need to make, AND it gives everyone a cohesive set of expectations. I also completely agree on the labeling. Having a label makes it easier for individuals and families to maintain an organizational system… and to get back clothes that have been left in various places between home and school!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
Organization and routine are key with my kids. We stay on a very strict schedule and that way the kids know exactly what to expect.
Brittnei says
This is great, Janine. Definitely reminds me of when it was time to go back to school when I was growing up. The bedtime thing was always interesting. I think the week before, my mom would make us go to bed earlier so we could get up for school. I used to be so excited to get started and head back though that I could never sleep the night before the first day. Walmart has some great tips here. Routine and some type of organization with kids can be extremely helpful! 🙂
lisacng @ expandng.com says
I’m sure as my kids get older, I will also let them stay up later and later but for now, their bedtime is pretty consistent whether “in school” or not since they are at home with an Au pair. Nevertheless, we need to be organized with them, even at home, with activities (I look forward to taking advantage of back to school sales) and healthy snacks. Enjoy the last 2 weeks of summer! How it flew by!
Corina Ramos says
My kids are teens and they still like coming home to after school snacks :).
I youngest will be a Senior this year and I have one going to a vocational school in the Fall. But I can’t wait for my grandson to start school and pick out the cute backpacks and stuff!
Happy Monday! Have a great week!
Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama says
The clear bins are genius!! I need to get some of those stat. I sure wish they would bring a walmart to nyc!! I would be in heaven!!
Kristina & Millie says
Always exciting time of year and some great bargins for sure 🙂
Rabia @TheLiebers says
We’re on our third week of our new routine and it’s going pretty well. But 6:00 is still SO EARLY to get everyone out of bed!