Things every new school mom should know
We interrupt our coverage of the Jeopardy contestant quest for this public service announcement:
It's back-to-school time again! And if you're a new school parent, here are a few tips from a seasoned veteran:
1) When purchasing the items on your child's supply list, purchase two or more of everything. With pencils, paper, crayons and the other things that get used on a daily basis, if you find a good sale, buy in bulk. Believe me, you're not going to get a box of crayons in December at the same price you paid in August. And if they don't use them all, you'll have some stashed away for next year. For special items (binders, folders, rulers, lunchboxes) buy one or two extra for emergencies. I keep a "supply" box filled with the surplus. But keep it hidden from the kids. They'll used it all up when you're not looking and not bother to tell you certain items need replenishing. Extra tip: For a paint smock, grab on older child's old shirt or pick up one for a buck at the Salvation Army.
2) Unless your kids are ready to move up a size, don't buy a whole new wardrobe for back-to-school. When my oldest son was in the early grades of elementary school, I would buy his entire fall wardrobe before school started. And then one year, he took a growth spurt between September and October and I was left a lot of brand-new clothes that didn't fit him. Most schools allow summer attire for the first few weeks of school, so pick up a few things off the clearance rack to freshen up their closets. And at the end of the previous school year, pick up some warmer clothes that are a little bigger off the clearance rack to get you through early fall. Then when they shoot up suddenly, or around Christmas (when there are some awesome sales), you'll have some extra cash on hand to replace everything they've outgrown. The same rule applies to shoes. Unless they're nasty or worn, don't buy new until they go up a size.
3) Don't let your kids clothes get them in trouble. T-shirts with sassy sayings are very in. So is a showing a lot of skin for girls. Don't think that just because it's elementary school, your child can get away with a negative message on a shirt or Daisy Duke shorts. And what you may think is cute or ok, may not be kosher with the school. So before you shop, call the school or the school board to check on the dress code.
4) You can drop off the tissues and baby wipes at open house. It's your child's first day of school and he's loaded down like a pack mule on a wagon train. Pack up the stuff that won't fit in his bookbag (tissues, baby wipes, gym shoes, art smock, etc.) and take it with you to the open house. Your child will already have a locker and desk assigned, so his things will have a place to go. Just remember to put a name on everything.
5) How to put a name on everything. No, you do not have to label every pencil. And not everything is easy to label. Like scissors. I use a small strip of white first aid tape on the outer blade. Or you can loop it around the handle and make a little flag. You can also use the first aid tape to label anything too dark to write on. IMPORTANT RULE: Never, ever, put your child's name on the outside of his backpack or lunch box, or anything like that. Do not buy personalized bags either. It's easy for predators to lure a child away if they know his or her name. And check your class roster before you label. In pre-school, there were three Sam's in my youngest son's class and until he was five, he thought his first name was spelled "Sam K dot". My point? If there is more than one child in the class with your child's name, you will have to include the last initial in your labeling. Or when they get a little older, just use the last name.
6) If your child has a medical condition or any special needs, remember to address them with the front office and the teacher BEFORE school starts. Up until a few years ago, children with asthma were not allowed to carry their inhalers to class, they had to be kept in the office. I had to scramble to get an exception to this rule when my son attended kindergarten because the distance from his classroom to the office could have been the difference between life and death. School staff and teachers are usually in the building two weeks before school starts, so call and let them be prepared to help your child when he arrives on his first day. And don't think you only have to do this in kindergarten. Even in a small school, you have to go over special instructions (and the subsequent paperwork) every year.
THE SUPREME WISDOM OF THE QUEENOSHEBA
A mother's work is never done.
It's back-to-school time again! And if you're a new school parent, here are a few tips from a seasoned veteran:
1) When purchasing the items on your child's supply list, purchase two or more of everything. With pencils, paper, crayons and the other things that get used on a daily basis, if you find a good sale, buy in bulk. Believe me, you're not going to get a box of crayons in December at the same price you paid in August. And if they don't use them all, you'll have some stashed away for next year. For special items (binders, folders, rulers, lunchboxes) buy one or two extra for emergencies. I keep a "supply" box filled with the surplus. But keep it hidden from the kids. They'll used it all up when you're not looking and not bother to tell you certain items need replenishing. Extra tip: For a paint smock, grab on older child's old shirt or pick up one for a buck at the Salvation Army.
2) Unless your kids are ready to move up a size, don't buy a whole new wardrobe for back-to-school. When my oldest son was in the early grades of elementary school, I would buy his entire fall wardrobe before school started. And then one year, he took a growth spurt between September and October and I was left a lot of brand-new clothes that didn't fit him. Most schools allow summer attire for the first few weeks of school, so pick up a few things off the clearance rack to freshen up their closets. And at the end of the previous school year, pick up some warmer clothes that are a little bigger off the clearance rack to get you through early fall. Then when they shoot up suddenly, or around Christmas (when there are some awesome sales), you'll have some extra cash on hand to replace everything they've outgrown. The same rule applies to shoes. Unless they're nasty or worn, don't buy new until they go up a size.
3) Don't let your kids clothes get them in trouble. T-shirts with sassy sayings are very in. So is a showing a lot of skin for girls. Don't think that just because it's elementary school, your child can get away with a negative message on a shirt or Daisy Duke shorts. And what you may think is cute or ok, may not be kosher with the school. So before you shop, call the school or the school board to check on the dress code.
4) You can drop off the tissues and baby wipes at open house. It's your child's first day of school and he's loaded down like a pack mule on a wagon train. Pack up the stuff that won't fit in his bookbag (tissues, baby wipes, gym shoes, art smock, etc.) and take it with you to the open house. Your child will already have a locker and desk assigned, so his things will have a place to go. Just remember to put a name on everything.
5) How to put a name on everything. No, you do not have to label every pencil. And not everything is easy to label. Like scissors. I use a small strip of white first aid tape on the outer blade. Or you can loop it around the handle and make a little flag. You can also use the first aid tape to label anything too dark to write on. IMPORTANT RULE: Never, ever, put your child's name on the outside of his backpack or lunch box, or anything like that. Do not buy personalized bags either. It's easy for predators to lure a child away if they know his or her name. And check your class roster before you label. In pre-school, there were three Sam's in my youngest son's class and until he was five, he thought his first name was spelled "Sam K dot". My point? If there is more than one child in the class with your child's name, you will have to include the last initial in your labeling. Or when they get a little older, just use the last name.
6) If your child has a medical condition or any special needs, remember to address them with the front office and the teacher BEFORE school starts. Up until a few years ago, children with asthma were not allowed to carry their inhalers to class, they had to be kept in the office. I had to scramble to get an exception to this rule when my son attended kindergarten because the distance from his classroom to the office could have been the difference between life and death. School staff and teachers are usually in the building two weeks before school starts, so call and let them be prepared to help your child when he arrives on his first day. And don't think you only have to do this in kindergarten. Even in a small school, you have to go over special instructions (and the subsequent paperwork) every year.
THE SUPREME WISDOM OF THE QUEENOSHEBA
A mother's work is never done.
posted by Queenosheba @ 5:06 PM
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