Five Ways to Prepare for Back-to-School

Disclosure: I have received information and materials from JOHNSON & JOHNSON CONSUMER, Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division, LLC. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post. #PositivelyPrepared #BacktoSchool #CollectiveBias

It’s that time of year again: back-to-school! I have some handy tips from homework to aches and pains so you’re prepared. Please share any of your tips too! 🙂

Here in Michigan, we’re getting ready for Back-to-School. I know some of you might have already started! After a long summer, there’s quite a bit to get done to prep for the chaos that comes once school starts. Now that all three girls will be in full time school, I’m using August to get back on track. Aside from the school supplies list, there are other things to think about.

Create a “Homework Station”. Even starting in kindergarten, there will be some at-home projects. I like to have all of the tools the kids might need ready in one area. In a 3-drawer bin, I have everything ready for homework time. In one drawer, I have scissors, pencil sharpeners. The next holds glue, glue sticks and tape and the final holds pencils, markers and colored pencils.

As the kiddos get older, they might need different tools like calculators, rulers or pens. In a larger basket I have clipboards from the Dollar section and dry-erase boards–perfect for letter practice or math! I also found fun foam cubes and dice for math homework.

Make a plan for paper organization. If this is your first year in school, get ready for it to rain papers. I learned the hard way that not being organized from the get-go will leave you drowning in papers. I have a stack-able letter organizer right by the door. The minute the girls get home, I empty out their take-home folders in designated shelves.

• Top shelf: To Look Through. These are papers yet to be organized. I try to sort through them at night. Any important papers that need to be returned are clipped onto the fridge.
• Middle shelf: Homework folders. Each child has a folder to put their homework in. If it’s always due a certain day of the week, I write that on the cover of the folder.
• Bottom shelf: To be filed. At the end of each month, I put all papers to be saved in a file. I label it with the name and grade of each kiddo.

For art projects, I have an old pizza box to store them in our basement. At first, it seems as if every paper should be saved, but it gets overwhelming quickly! Make sure everything has their name on it and has some significance–the first time adding or writing a story.

Schedule! As fun as late summer nights are, it’s time to get back to a normal eating and bedtime schedule. My girls go to bed pretty early compared to others (7:30). I also try to have a meal plan organized and dinner at 5:30, at the latest. I know this doesn’t work for everyone, especially if you have extracurricular activities, but try to make a set schedule NOW. By the time school starts, your kids will know what to expect and a routine in place.

Calendars and Specials Chart. Each of my girls will have a different schedule at school each day–we call them “specials”. To keep track of which day Olivia needs her gym shoes or Maddie needs her library books, it’s great to have something visual on the fridge. This is a dry-erase board that I found for $1. In permanent marker, I’ll write the consistent events that never change. Then, weekly, I’ll write in dry erase marker anything special, like snack day or appointments.

A larger family dry erase calendar is essential too. Ours has EVERYTHING on it and is essential to keeping my head attached. The minute I have a date for something, it goes on the dry erase calendar. I do have a planner for my blog and PTO events, too, but this is the “main hub” for the family.

Stock up your First-Aid Kit. This is the most essential step. I just checked my first aid area from last year and it’s pretty empty–I have only the random square Bandaids left! Once school starts, there are going to be so many different ailments you’ll hear about on the way home. Blisters from new shoes, the first of the year flu bug, headaches and even sore muscles. I stock it up even for myself with Motrin and Bengay! Check your coupons, there are TONS of Johnson & Johnson ones available right now!

On your next trip to Target, which is inevitable at this time of year, head to the health section first! I’m a total nerd who loves shopping for these types of items! With certain purchases, you may even get a free (super cute, I might add) First Aid Kit zip holder…there’s fab coupons inside too.

Here’s the essentials list for First Aid Kit for any occasion:

1. Children’s MOTRIN®. Help your kids bounce back by relieving their pain or fever with Children’s MOTRIN®. For high fever, nothing works faster or lasts longer. Among OTC brands. Lasts up to 8 hours. Temporarily: reduces fever; relieves minor aches and pains due to: the common cold, flu, headache, sore throat, & toothache.
2. Children’s Tylenol®. Children’s TYLENOL® works differently than other pain and fever medicine. It also won’t upset little stomachs. Temporarily: reduces fever; relieves minor aches and pains due to: the common cold, flu, headache, sore throat, & toothache.
3. Ultra Strength BENGAY® Cream. Temporarily relieves the minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with: simple backache, arthritis, strains, bruises and sprains. It’s great for your gym bag too!
4. MOTRIN® IB. For me! Temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: the common cold, headache, backache, minor pain of arthritis, toothache, muscular aches, premenstrual and menstrual cramps; temporarily reduces fever.
5. Rubbing alcohol/Hydrogen Peroxide. First Aid staple with various uses–great to keep on hand!
6. Bandages. You never know when cuts and scrapes might occur!

Get positively prepared with the right pain relief for you and your family at Target!

How are you preparing for back-to-school? What are your First Aid Kit essentials?