Tag: kids

Beating the Back-to-School Blues

Posted on by Jordank

#Back-to-school time can be fraught with worry for #kids and #parents alike. Kids might worry about new and more difficult classes, making friends, and catching the bus on time. Parents likely worry about getting kids to school, managing homework and money.

Most jarringly for kids, the season represents a shift from the carefree days of #summer. There won’t be as many opportunities for freestyle play or spontaneous family fun when school is in session; it’s like starting a new job at the end of every #summer. Naturally, the shift can produce anxiety.

Academic struggles, relationships, bullying, fitting in and the unknown can take their toll on the young psyche, says Parents. Common signs of anxiety in children can include physical complaints, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

Listen to #children and validate their feelings to deal with any possible qualms about going back to #school. Encourage kids to express their concerns. Remind them that they aren’t alone. Work through worries together, calmly and with understanding.

It can help to do a “walk-through” of the school day — waking up on time, eating breakfast, packing their backpacks, and traveling to and from school. Get children comfortable with the transition before it takes place.

You can also plan a #summertime “last hurrah” — an outing designed to give your kids a great memory of the summer that was. It could be a trip to the beach, a day at an amusement park or a celebratory meal — anything that gives your child something to look forward to.

And parents — if you’re worried about the expense of having growing children in school — start your back-to-school #shopping at the #thrift and #secondhand stores supplied by #donations to ClothingDonations.org. You can #save #money on any number of school needs, from clothing to art supplies.

As you take stock of the summer and prepare your kids to return to school, ask them if there’s anything they no longer need. Set those things aside and schedule a free #donation #pickup with ClothingDonations.org. Those goods will be resold to help the nation’s #veterans.

Transitions are never easy — especially the one from summer fun to schoolwork. Help your kids cope; it will help them succeed at school!

Make Summer Memories Without the Clutter

Posted on by Jordank

#Summertime is ripe for making #memories. People are out and about, taking time off from work and school, and visiting with friends and family at all sorts of warm-weather events. They’re also often buying #stuff they don’t need.

The good news is that you don’t need to buy a lot of #junk or spend a lot of #money to have fun. There are lots of #thrifty ways to enjoy summer and preserve the memories without adding a ton of #clutter to your home.

Let’s say you’re on a budget (and with prices on everything from hamburger to gasoline rising fast, who isn’t?) and have #kids at home. Take advantage of the public pools, playgrounds and parks in your area, or choose from a range of low-cost activities from Modern Parents, Messy Kids.

Brainstorm a list of ideas for your perfect summer and get the family involved, says Smart Mom, Smart Ideas. Then, “eliminate anything you can’t afford, eliminate things [that are] too far away and eliminate things with too many constraints” to create and your bucket list and plan events.

If a summer #vacation is on that list, keep #costs and #clutter at a minimum by skipping most of the souvenirs. Instead of plasticky gewgaws, bring home small, useful gifts such as local spices or handmade items, suggests Saskia’s Travel Blog: “I collect moments, not magnets.”

Make preserving your summer memories simple by taking photos and printing a few favorites for display. Keep a scrapbook to organize tickets, maps and papers. Learn a local recipe for later use, or buy exactly one special item that you can’t get anywhere else. If you must buy a souvenir, make it #sustainable and consumable — the local crafts or foodstuffs, for example.

To maintain memories without adding to the piles of stuff in your home, #minimalist Jules Acree says to write about your experience or take a photo. Only buy and keep #things that you use regularly, would pass down to your children or would grab “if your house was on fire.”

You can make summer memories without creating clutter. And nothing lasts like a memory!

Help Kids Organize Their School Stuff

Posted on by Jordank

#Parents aspiring to minimalism (or at least hoping to keep chaos at a minimum) will want to #organize anything that comes home at the end of the #school year and prepare for the next, says Your Mom Village. Have your #kids empty their backpacks and sort out the supplies. Broken crayons and used-up pencils and pens can go in the trash; notebooks can be saved if they still have lots of unused sheets left. Group useful items together for storage — and into bins labeled by child, if necessary — until the #fall. Launder the backpacks, and start shopping for any #school supplies you’ll need in the fall to beat the #back-to-school rush. #SchoolsOut

Track End-of-Year School Events to Avoid Conflicts

Posted on by Jordank

Add any end-of-year, school-related events such as concerts, play performances, graduations and parent-teacher nights to the family calendar to avoid conflicts this month, says Engage the Brain. Incentivize one last push ahead of final exams and projects. Gather borrowed equipment and books to return, and complete any paperwork needed for your child to continue at the same school or transfer in the fall. Arrange summer camp or learning experiences for a younger child; get teens to file applications for a summer job (and perhaps start looking into higher education). Finally, celebrate the end of a successful #school year with a party or outing. #SchoolsOut

Count Down the Days Until Summer Vacation

Posted on by Jordank

Young children might appreciate a countdown to the end of the #school year, says Scholastic, to help them see the transition as a positive and prepare for it. If your child is changing classrooms or schools, try to schedule a visit so that they can get an idea of what’s ahead. You may also wish to schedule summer play dates with school friends in order to maintain connections, and have your child make a card thanking the teacher for their work, assuming the experience was positive. You can also ask for a reading list or suggestions for activities that will help keep your child’s learning fresh for the fall. #SchoolsOut