It’s time to trade that beach bag for a back pack as August ushers in the impending school year. Since 1960 August has been recognized as Back to School Month, a yearly rite of passage which is full of excitement, promise and a certain amount of anxiety as your children begin a new grade level. As with many important life transitions, the foundation of preparation often begins in your home. Following are ways to get your home in A+ condition for Back-To-School Month:
A QUICK HISTORY OF SCHOOLS IN THE U.S.
The “why” of public school in the United States got its roots with the Founding Fathers who understood that a strong voting democracy depended on an educated populace. A certain level of standard education was necessary to accomplish this.
- In 1635 the first school was founded in Boston, becoming the first public school in the colonies.
- In 1636 higher education began with the founding of Harvard University by John Harvard.
- In 1639 the Mather School in Dorchester, MA became the first school supported by tax dollars.
- In 1727 Ursuline Academy became the first school to open exclusively for girls.
- In 1918 Elementary school became a requirement by all 50 states.
MAKE YOUR HOME A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING
The outside world can be a place of uncertainty and stress and these conditions are a normal part of life. All the more reason to make your home a place of orderly predictability. Set the stage for scholarly and creative endeavors by making your home a supportive place of refuge. As the saying goes, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” If you declutter, destress, and begin with an organized house, it will be easier to maintain the chaos you know is just around the corner.
Read our article Storage 101: Top Organization Strategies
CREATE DESIGNATED SPACE FOR HOMEWORK
There is no getting around the importance of homework for a successful school year. Make sure there is a designated space for this activity, whether this is a side table in the kitchen or a desk in your child’s room.
GET SCHOOL SUPPLIES SOONER RATHER THAN LATER
Get an early start when it comes to school supplies or you may end up staring at empty shelves. Begin this process with finding the supply list (usually online) that teachers typically make available in early August. This will also help you get to know the teacher better and also what the syllabus for the year will be.
DESIGNATE A SCHOOL SUPPLY SPACE
Once you’ve taken inventory and purchased new items, designate one spot in your home to keep school supplies. This way when your child needs index cards or poster board for a project at home, you won’t spend extra time looking around the house or having to buy at the last minute.
GO NEW-SCHOOL-CLOTHES SHOPPING
This is possibly the the preparation your kids will look forward to the most: sporting new school clothes! Pass along what they’ve outgrown or destroyed. Shop for new staple items if necessary, and, depending upon the age of your student, let them plan their first week of wardrobe to avoid last-minute surprises.
FOCUS ON A SCHEDULE
Chances are your summer was filled with mornings sleeping in and being more spontaneous and less structured about daily activities. It takes some time to get used to waking up early and being somewhere specific at a certain time. Ease into the new school schedule by setting specific bedtimes and wake up times a couple weeks before school starts so that everyone’s internal clock has had a chance to acclimate.
SHOP FOR GROCERIES WITH PLANNED MEALS IN MIND
Make sure you have a plentiful inventory of healthy snacks, meals and beverages that can be consumed on the go. Dinners during the school year tend to be earlier and scheduled. Take time to plan out a few dinners for the upcoming week. Also, prep items for school lunches on the weekend. Put carrots, crackers, cheese, pretzels, and other lunch items into baggies or other small containers. This makes it easy to grab and go in the morning.
And remember that one of the best ways to welcome the new school year is to enjoy each other’s company before the bustle of fall sets in.