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Hello,
This week we have some general back to school tips and advice. Next week will publish back to school lunch and dinners tips. If you have any back school lunch tips or dinner ideas, feel free to share them on the contest page.
We also are looking for homemade crafts that can be made as Christmas gifts. If you have any ideas, please share them.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Tips:
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Tips
Are You in a School Daze?
By Susan Dunn, MA
All around the country along about now, the kids are going back to school. While it's primarily their event, it impacts the whole family, as everyone adjusts to new schedules and routines.
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Tips for the First Day of School
I'm a nerd and have my own handbook for tips for school. Well here are some tips for the kids if they are nervous.
Good luck on your first day!
By Rachel from San Antonio, TX
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My best back-to-school tip is to have a "spot" or hook for each child's backpack. That way it can easily be located in the morning when leaving and anything else that needs to go that morning can be set beside the backpack as a reminder.
Packing the backpack with completed homework, signed papers and show and tell the night before helps the morning go smoother also.
By Cheryl from Missouri
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Tips For Making That First Day Of School Transition
By Sharon Shearer
Children who are used to being home often have a stressful time adjusting to the transition of leaving MOM for school. This is a period of my life that I will never forget. I was mom's baby -- the last of six kids. In my little mind MOM was the one being PUNISHED. I'd lay my head on my desk and cry. I didn't know how she'd make it without me. (Little did I realize she probably LOVED the quiet time!!)
For several years I worked with children in Head Start and observed many breaking away situations, and I'd like to pass along a few tips to Moms to help their new student through this transition.
1. Be a Real Encourager
Don't let them see you cry. Then go home and bawl your eyes out! If your school allows, and they must ride a bus, let them ride and meet the bus at the school. Whether you are happy or not with their new teacher, don't let the child know. Do everything in your power to make this an exciting experience. Excitement is contagious!
2. For the Child's Sake and the Teacher's . . .
Don't linger any longer than you must. This only adds to the misery. One crying child can set off half a classroom of bawling children.
3. Assure Them That This Will Be Fun
They'll meet LOTS of new friends and YOU WILL be there when they come home, and you want to hear ALL ABOUT this first day!
4. AS PROMISED -- Put Everything Else Aside and LISTEN.
Children talk if we listen. They'll let you know their likes and dislikes and by being observant you can sense their worries and frustrations and make your plans for helping them work for them.
5. Determine To Be An Active Participant In Their Activities.
Trust me -- there will come a day when they don't WANT mom to be there, but for now, YOU'RE A TEAM. And your goal is to make this strange new phase of life FUN and exciting!
To wrap up my childhood crying story, do we ever quit crying? I cried with all three of mine, but I never let 'em see me. And as I get older I realize that moms really do feel like they're being punished when they turn over their BABY to a school system. That is until the newness wears off and they get a taste of "Quiet Time."
Sharon,Ky
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Dressing Kids in Matching Outfits
Because of our work schedules, my husband usually gets our 2 year old son dressed in the morning. He's a wonderful father, but heaven help him, he cannot put matching outfits together very well! To make things easier, I made up a set of hangers with the days of the week on them. On Sundays, I go through my son's closet and put outfits together, then hang one on each "day of the week" hanger. On weeknights, I take out the outfit for the next day and hang it on a hook that's next to our son's changing table. That way, my husband has an outfit all set to go in the morning, and I can rest assured that my son won't be going out in public looking like he chose his outfit himself!
By Lisa
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Purchasing school supplies takes a huge bite out of our budget (and it's a free public education!) Each payday, I place $25 in an envelope to be used for school related expenses (supplies, lunches, yearbook, field trip, etc.) I have even accumulated enough to purchase school clothes from time to time.
At this time of year I STOCK UP on 5 cent crayons, folders and 88 cent markers, scissors and colored pencils, 50 cent portfolios and binders. We always need more half way through the year and it pains me to pay that inflated price. Plus, if I don't use them all, the extras can be used for the angel tree or operation shoebox, taken to a homeless shelter or saved for next year. I keep all my school supplies in a plastic drawer in the basement.
Saving a little each month really helps me have money on hand when there is a bargain that I just can't resist purchasing!
By Diana from Prospect, KY
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Saving Money on Preschool: Readiness Skills Needed for Kindergarten
By Michelle Jones
As a mom of 4 who's youngest child is about to start Kindergarten this Fall, I'd like to share with you some things I've learned about Preschool over the last ten years, along with a list of readiness skills every child can be learning at home - whether attending Preschool or not.
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Ten Dos and Don'ts for School Daze
By Susan Dunn, MA
Kids all over the nation are returning to school. Here are some things to anticipate, and some tips.
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Back To School Basics
By Colleen Langenfeld
The school year is in full swing again in many places and with it, another opportunity to make the days run a bit smoother than they did before. Like most parents, I've discovered there are a handful of challenges each year that need to be addressed to make for a productive, successful school year.
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Keeping Your Children Safe In Public
This is more of a safety tip than a thrifty tip! With back to school, here, don't label your child's belongings with his name where strangers can see it. Put his name inside his things. If a small child is addressed by name by a stranger, the stranger seems "known" to the child.
Teach your children about "good" strangers, i.e. policemen, the store checkers and people who work in stores and wear uniforms or store badges, vs. strangers who are none of these. We want to encourage careful children not fearful ones.
Teach your child that these are people he/she can go to in an emergency. In a public venue, if a child is lost, have them look for an officer or an older woman or a woman with kids, who is most likely to help. And lastly, if the unthinkable happens and your child is snatched, tell them to drop to the ground, try to get away and scream and make noise and yell "I don't know this person, I'm being kidnapped" Otherwise your child can look like a kid having a tantrum!
By Linda
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Unless you want to replace jackets and the like that are lost at school, be sure to label everything-on the inside. White-out (Liquid Paper) can be used on dark clothes and will not wash out. One year I had 6 students with identical navy blue sweatshirts in my class!
By Linda
Post Feedback: Click Here Extra Expenses at the Beginning of School
I remember when my children were in school, there were always extra unexpected expenses in the first weeks of school.
These are just some things that come to mind. Be sure to budget not only for school clothes and supplies but also for extra school expenses. With the way our schools are financed these days there are many extra expenses for families.
If you can think of any others, post them here.
Susan from ThriftyFun
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