Home Sweet Home Magazine - August 2021

Prepare for Emergencies Finally, make sure you’re ready to tackle situations when the kids are away fromhome. Refill any prescriptions, andmake sure there is a supply at home and in the school office or nursing station. This goes for things like epipens for food or bee sting allergies, but also applies to daily meds in case they forget to take thembefore school. Update your emergency contact list. You likely filled out school paperwork several months ago, so make sure doctor and dentist information is current, along with insurance information and all contact numbers and email addresses. Like anything worth doing, getting prepared for the school year means putting in some time and effort upfront. But with systems in place and everybody on the same page, school days can be more productive and less stressful for everyone.

Organize Email/ Communication /Texts It’s not only paperwork and school supplies that increase when school is back in session. It’s also the amount of communication from teachers and administrators. Figure out a plan to stay on top of the latest news and updates so you’re not chasing information a few weeks or months after school starts. Find the district’s Facebook page and follow it. Add the school’s office phone number to your phone. Add important emails to your planner and email address book, and add a folder for “School Stuff” where you can store emails as needed. If your student or students are remote learning, you won’t have to worry so much about lunch and clothing, but technology will be of utmost importance. In addition to making sure you have access to all essential contacts, it’s the perfect time to evaluate your internet service. If you’ve been considering a change to higher speeds or a different provider, make the change before the school year begins.

summer. Evaluate items you’ll need for the year, andmake a list of new clothing you’ll need to purchase. Teach older kids to be responsible for their own clothes — show them how to wash and put them away. Younger kids can feel a lot of anxiety about the process of picking out clothes each day. The smallest extra decision can sometimes be enough to derail an entire morning. Do yourself a favor andminimize the hassle by picking out clothes the night before. Be sure to include socks, shoe selection (considering if it’s P.E. day), and layers for cold weather. Even better, choose clothes for the week during the weekend. Look up the weather forecast together, and check the calendar for field trips or special occasions. Use the opportunity to talk about temperatures, teach planning skills andmemorize days of the week. With an idea of what the week looks like, put together outfits by grouping them on hangers or shelves.

Organize Clothes

Start by seeing what fits and what doesn’t. You’ll be surprised how much your child has grown over the

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