It's here, guys. The end of summer is weeks away and the school year is almost upon us. Are you ready? Please don't go into this next season feeling overwhelmed and unprepared! We've rounded up 10 easy ways to get a handle on this coming school year and help you make the most of these busy coming weeks.

You got this!

 

 

Top Ten Things To Do Before School Starts

 

1) Fit in one last trip to Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens, or the beach. Give those season passes a workout!

2) Try on last year’s pants. It’s amazing how fast those kids grow. You don’t want to be caught (literally) without pants when the first cold snap hits!

3) Inventory the condition of everyone’s outerwear. Rain boots, snow boots, coats, jackets, umbrellas, snow pants, backpacks... Write down what fits, what’s torn, and what completely worn. Keep that list handy for clearance sales, yard sales, hand-me-down opportunities, etc.

4) Take advantage of tax-free shopping! Come to FredParent's Wizarding Universe back-to-school expo on August 4 from noon-4pm at the Spotsylvania Towne Centre. Dress the family in your best robes and Quidditch scarves, and join us for a magical afternoon of demonstrations, wand-making, and the chance to win a Children's Museum of Richmond membership!

5) Get your master calendar in order. Write down all teacher work days, holidays, half days, doctors appointments, try-outs, travel games, everything! It’s amazing how one forgotten half-day can throw your entire week out of whack.

6) Start sleeping on your school schedule. You don’t want to fight with wide awake kids at 9:00pm or drag cranky kids out of bed at 6:00am, if you can help it! Sleep is everything.

7) Start writing down flexible meal plans. Nothing set in stone, but something to give you an idea of what a typical day will look like and cost. For example:

Kiddos- Breakfast: yogurt, fruit, milk / Lunch: deli slices, string cheese, veggies, milk ( bought at school ) / Snack: goldfish and grapes / Dinner: tacos and raw veggies.

Parents- Breakfast: coffee, hardboiled egg, banana/ Lunch: leftovers or salad / Snack: Larabar or string cheese and fruit / Dinner: tacos and raw veggies.

Having this list tells me that each week I will probably need to prep veggies and hard boil eggs, make sure I have clean coffee thermoses, and put money in my child’s school account for milk. Be mindful of weekly events like Friday pizza night, Sunday brunch at mom’s, pizza day at school, birthdays, etc. That way you don’t over buy at the grocery store, you can keep staples like frozen pizza on deck, and keep an eye out for deals on items you always buy (I’m looking at you Goldfish).

8) Establish your zones. Have a spot for homework, a spot to keep important papers, and a work-free area to decompress. All three are equally important.

9) Upload your pictures. Do you use Shutterfly, Mpix, or Snapfish? Upload your favorite pictures from this summer and keep them in a marked folder for easy access. The future you will be eternally grateful.

10) Get the necessary out of the way. Make sure you have all your little one’s shots and records updated, and all necessary paperwork completed before the school year starts.

 

written by brenda sapanghila

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