Getting Organized for Back to School
Can you believe it’s that time of year already? Wow, did that summer fly by. We’ve been so busy here that I hardly noticed!
It can be a busy time for families, so use these tips to get back in the swing of things smoothly.
1. Jump back into that bedtime routine – No more late nights and late mornings. Now everyone has to be up in the morning. Start your sleep routines right now (ideally, two weeks ago) so everyone is adjusted by the time school starts.
2. Do a morning run-through – If any big changes are about like a new school, new bus stop, or new timeline, do a run-through. Have everyone get up, get ready and eat breakfast as they would on a school day. Make sure there are no hiccups in the flow.
3. Find out what your kids need – There’s no sense in hitting the office supply store until you know exactly what they need. Would you think to pick up a protractor? Usually teachers give out lists before school starts so you can have your kids’ bags prepared.
4. Start a family calendar – Put a big calendar somewhere public in your home. Everyone should add their activities to this list, whether it’s a late meeting, an after school music lesson, a dentist appointment or anything else.
5. Make a homework center – These are invaluable. Kids associate their activities with their spaces (technically we all do, but kids are more susceptible). That’s why it’s best to keep toys out of the bedroom so kids associate the room with sleeping. Make a space that’s designated for homework and is free of distractions.
6. Create a launch pad – Some days getting out of the house is the hardest part of the day. Create a space (near the door) for shoes, coats, bags, instruments, athletic gear, and anything you need for work. Put everything here the night before so nothing is forgotten.
7. Wake up before the kids – I know this is tough, but waking up just thirty minutes before the children is a great way to get things done without minding them.
8. Plan out your lunches – Vow that this year will be the last year that you make lunches at the last minute. (Moms who have tossed in the odd back-of-the-pantry item know just what I mean). Create a meal schedule for a few weeks and stick with it.
9. Update school information – Give a quick phone call to your kids’ school and find out if they need any information, like medical documents, emergency contact information, or stuff like that.
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Written by Stephanie Parker from Sleepingbaby.com, inventors of the Zipadee-Zip
The motto for Sleeping Baby, makers of the Zipadee-Zip, is: "Inspiring Dreams One Night at A time," and that, in a nutshell, is how it all started…with one little dream that has since become the Parker family's reality. When Brett and Stephanie Parker's daughter, Charlotte, was born, the feeling that welled up inside of them was indescribable; they never realized until first looking into those baby blues of hers that they were even capable of that kind of love.
When it was time to transition baby from swaddling, the Parkers tried every sleep sack on the market and every swaddle weaning trick they could find for nearly two weeks and nothing worked to get baby Charlotte to fall and stay asleep.
Stephanie became determined to restore sleep and sanity to their household and set out to find a solution that would soothe Charlotte's startle reflex and provide her the cozy womb-like environment she loved so much but still give her the freedom to roll over and wiggle around in her crib safely. Out of sheer desperation and exhaustion, the Zipadee-Zip was born. The first Zipadee-Zip(R) Stephanie put together on her little sewing machine worked like magic!
To date tens of thousands of Zipadee-Zips have been sold and all from word-of-mouth marketing. It is so rewarding for the Parkers to see other parents and babies getting the sleep they both need and deserve!
Interested in writing a guest blog for Sleeping Baby? Send your topic idea to pr@sleepingbaby.com.
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