During the end of July and the first few weeks of August, it seems like every store you walk into has a back-to-school section. From pencils to paper to rulers and glue sticks, your child's back-to-school list probably gets bigger and bigger from one year to the next. For now, let's take a quick look at a few tips for making sure you have everything covered to ensure your child has a successful start to a new school year.
Back-to-School Do's and Don'ts
According to Statista.com, Americans will spend more than $27.5 billion on back-to-school supplies this year. The most in-demand products are items like paper and pencils, followed by clothes, shoes, and backpacks. The most important things you can do to help your child have a successful start to a new school year are:
- Making your child eat breakfast each morning either at home or at school
- Talk about ways to make new friends
- Take your child by the school for a tour
- Listen to your child about any concerns he or she has about the new school year
A few things you most definitely don't want to do are:
- Share your anxiety about the new school year with your child
- Be discouraged if your child is repeating a grade
- Ignore concerns of your child
- Avoid setting a routine
Tips for Buying School Supplies
When it comes to buying new school supplies, it's imperative to keep in mind your child doesn't have to have the best of everything. If you can afford to spend several hundred dollars on new school supplies, that's great. If you're limited on monies, though, there's no need to be upset. There are more than a few stores that offer great prices on new school supplies, especially a dollar store. You'll find everything from packs of pens and folders to erasers, glue sticks and more for only $1 at a dollar store.
Guide to a Good School Routine
Sleep, leisure time, and eating are the most important parts of a good back-to-school routine. Your child needs at least eight hours of sleep each night, followed by a hearty breakfast each morning, as well as 20 to 30 minutes to simply relax and get ready. There's nothing worse than having to rush during the morning hours, so make sure to wake your child up early enough to keep things relaxed and laid back instead of chaotic.
-The Genie Academy team
