It's that time of year again! Everyone's trying to hit the back-to-school sales to prep for the upcoming year. We have it a little easier since we home school pretty much year 'round, but for the past month we've been leaning on the "life is the lesson" philosophy rather than formal academics. We'll start back on the book work next week now that the house is almost set up; our arrival works out well since the first meeting of the school year for the local homeschool group is coming up soon as well. We'll be able to enjoy a "Not-Back-to-School" day and get to know the other members of the group just like the kids who are heading into classrooms to meet their teachers and fellow students for the new year.
How do you prepare your kids for the return of school? If you're looking for ideas for coping with schedule changes and new routines, look no further. Here are some tips, adapted from a recent Reader's Digest article on the matter:
- Stay fit! Just because the school system says summer break is over doesn't mean you have to pack on pounds. If you live within walking distance of the school, skip the bus system or the carpool and walk your kids to class. Extra benefit: less exhaust inhaled while you're sitting in the drop-off loop and less gas burning a hole in your budget.
- Incorporate activity: don't give up the outdoor fun just yet. Schedule an evening walk with the family to energize your kids' minds and keep Fido fit and trim. Plan for weekend bike rides, hikes, and the like to keep everyone burning off any extra calories from school lunches.
- Speaking of lunches, as RD says, "Mind the menu." If your child's school hasn't already switched to healthier fare, switch for them. Skip the school lunch trays and send your kiddos to school with a healthy brown-bag affair instead. Pack plenty of fruit, veggies, whole grain products and low-fat dairy products. There's plenty of nutritious (and fun) stuff out there that can withstand a trip to school with most adventurous students.
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