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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

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Rock it: Best Tips for Getting Back to School

Yum

August 26, 2018 By Autumn Rose Reo 7 Comments

Got back to school under your belt? Now’s the time to get the rest of your school year rollin’ with these tips for getting back to school!

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Back to school.

That time of the year when you’re just about to start enjoying the summer time and then you look at the calendar and see that “Meet the Teacher” is next week.


Back=to=School-JCP

That time of the year when you’re out to scavenge through all your kids clothes to see how many more days you can make that one pair of shoes work before your kid’s toe actually peeks out.

That time of the year when you have to all have to get back in a routine of the morning marathon to get to school before the first bell rings. 

So we’ve put together the Best Tips for Getting Back to School to help you make the rest of the year rock and roll! 

You Go First

This may seem to contradict everything, but before you the fire drill started, make time for you! Yes, get yourself up, get dressed, get your coffee and then press go. If you are hitting the floor feeling like you’ve already lost the game, you will. Start off the day ready to take it on full steam and the rest of the family will take that on, too. 

coffee

Make Time for Meals

Don’t skip breakfast! 

Without a little healthy fuel to get things going, you’re setting up their day (and yours) for full-on suckage. So make sure they get something in their belly – even if it’s eaten in the car or walking to class. 

Here are several of our go-to recipe favorites for back to school breakfast. 

  • Use your slow cooker to create breakfast the night before. Oatmeal, egg casseroles, and even french toast are A-MAZING in the slow cooker. (Actually, the slow cooker is a super friend for every meal!) 
  • Use Sundays to make your breakfasts and then freeze them for the whole week including pancakes, muffins, and even donuts! 
  • For those even harder mornings, have a few items around that are you’re go-tos. Go for easy items that you can grab and go or even leave in your car (great for snack times later.)  
    • Jimmy Dean Egg Scramblers make morning meal time easy – all the ingredients are together, so you just cook and go. 
    • GoGo SqueeZ applesauce and yogurtZ that don’t have to be refrigerated, so you can keep them in your purse for those last-minute surprises so you always have something healthy handy.

Added Nutrition: Banana Bread made with yogurt or applesauce (Check out this Banana Bread recipe)

Plan for lunches and snacks in advance!

Don’t ever wait until the last minute to fill up the lunch box.

  • I have the kids immediately after school make/ their meal for tomorrow so we don’t forget for the next day.  When you’re done, I check it to ensure a healthy lunch box.
  • When it comes to snacks after school, have healthy ones stocked up so the kids make good choices. Preparing healthy snack stations in the fridge, in the pantry, or even your car will help keep the kids sustained until dinner. (A lunch/snack station is a handy way to put it all together and teach them how to do it – with a little guidance!) 

Prep and Plan

Prep the Wardrobe

  • Start off the week by setting out clothing or working with your child to pick outfits for the whole week. Place them in an organizer like this to make it easy to pull out each day. They not only learn responsibility, but also team work with you. Plus it will save you so much wasted time during the week with “what do I wear mom?” 

Closet Organizer

  • Since kids need to change sizes almost every three months, what’s the need to stock up the closet more than one season in advance. Buy what they need for that time and alternate. Also, save lots of dollars by sharing with other families who have kids only a year older than them to pass on their clothes with they outgrow them and always make use of consignment events like Just Between Friends Fort Worth.

Plan your work, work your plan

I cannot recommend to you more the importance of a good planner to organize your family’s schedule. Whether it’s paper or electronic, having a planner that works for mom and the rest of the family is crucial. This also includes organizing all the important info you need in one place like a family binder to keep your information at the tip of the finger. 

  • I like online organization including Google Calendars (I have 12) plus always having a notepad handy when I need to make notes and keep thoughts organized. 
  • For the paper people, there are so many options available. This planner has people buying it left and right! And planning doesn’t just mean putting in the appointments. You’ll want to meal plan, I suggest this Meal Planner from Carrie Elle with perforated lists, meal plans and much more! 

Get it Together

Homework It

Homework isn’t fun for anyone, so streamline the fights and keep it focused with a Homework Station. This will make this less-than-fun activity easier for all of you. Outline expectations, have an area set up with pens, paper, sharpener, light, and with no distractions. If the kids have to be on the computer, make sure there’s no way to have them get on other activities like YouTube or another social media. And remember, if they’re old enough, take away the phone.   

Then here’s the biggie: sign what you need to, check the homework, and then pack up the backpack for in the morning. This way all you have to do is grab and go! 

Time it Out

Setting up a routine and assignment chores isn’t just for you – it will make it easier for them know when and what things are going to happen. Using this template, you can set up the rules and stick to them for bedtimes, wake up times, and chores!

Click here to download your customizable template.

However, the two biggest things you need to remember to really be a rockstar parent: 

  1. Say no – there’s no need to try to do everything, everywhere and all the time!
  2. Sundays are your friends for making the other 6 days rock and roll!

More from mamachallenge.com

  • Best Planners for MomsBest Planners for Moms
  • How to Save on Back to School ClothesHow to Save on Back to School Clothes
  • Back to School with Not Your Mama’s Slow Cooker RecipesBack to School with Not Your Mama’s Slow Cooker Recipes
  • Back to School BreakfastsBack to School Breakfasts
  • Tips for the First-Timer’s First Day of SchoolTips for the First-Timer’s First Day of School
  • Is it Time for You to Go Back to School, too?Is it Time for You to Go Back to School, too?

Filed Under: Back to School, TV Tagged With: Back to School, breakfast, homework, lunches, planning

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Autumn Rose Reo

About Autumn Rose Reo

Texas blogger, TV contributor, PR pro, and mother of two (including a son with a Congenital Heart Defect) , Autumn Rose Reo is always on the search for REAL SOLUTIONS for REAL PARENTS that REALLY WORK. From parenthood, things to do, reviews, style, recipes and more, she’s always cookin’ up something fun, resourceful and good to know! She’s frequently featured on TV sharing her solutions and in her spare time, she’s helping others promote their business with her own PR shop, The Reo Agency See what she’s burning, party she is planning, or what challenge she is taking on today.

Comments

  1. Tara says

    September 12, 2016 at 3:49 pm

    These are all great back to school tips. Packing up the lunches the day before is a great idea. Nothing worse than running around in the morning trying to do it all.

    Reply
  2. Jennifer H says

    September 12, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    A schedule is uber important! These are great tips for parents with lil ones.

    Reply
  3. Alicia says

    September 12, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    These are great tips. I really like that printable. I’m going to have to print one out for my youngest who needs reminders on what to do every day.

    Reply
  4. Dawn Lopez says

    September 12, 2016 at 11:47 pm

    The best thing to make back to school easier is definitely prepping as much as possible the night before. It’s great when the kids get old enough to be responsible for some things also. Anything off my list is a huge help!

    Reply
  5. Jenn Gerlach says

    September 13, 2016 at 3:55 am

    Baack to school can be so much fun. We look forward to field trips when areas are less crowded

    Reply
  6. Myrah Duque says

    September 13, 2016 at 10:02 am

    What a neat printable! That would have helped me a lot when my daughter was going to school. I think getting it all prepared the night before is the best option, this way you get a bit more of sleep.

    Reply
  7. Ryan Escat says

    September 13, 2016 at 11:28 am

    I love your tips. My son is not yet in school but he will be by next year.

    Reply

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Meet this Mama: Autumn Rose Reo

Autumn Rose ReoGet REAL Solutions for REAL Parents that Work! From recipes, things to do, parenting tips (and fails) and how to cope with everything in between, she'll share all the best ways to take on your (mama) challenges... https://www.mamachallenge.com/about/

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