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DON’T GET SCHOOLED BY BEING UNPREPARED!

INSIDER TIPS ON HOW BUSY PARENTS (AND KIDS!) CAN GET INTO A STRESS-FREE SCHOOL YEAR ROUTINE


Get prepared for the new school year with tips from parenting expert Colleen Burns

Back to school is right around the corner and with it comes the chaos of school year routines! The to-do list for families before classes begin is extensive: getting the kids ready on time, making sure they get to school safely, preparing lunches in a pinch, and the list keeps going on! With so much to do, even the most put together parent might feel overwhelmed. Here is mother of six and parenting expert, Colleen Burns’, tips on how to prepare for the upcoming school year:

  • Plan a last-minute family vacation: They are so important not only for reducing stress, but for bonding and making memories, and a trip doesn’t have to be expensive. Use a travel app or website like Booking.com. They have more than one million unique places to stay for any budget, from five star hotels, to villas, to boats and even tree houses! No matter what you buy or reserve online always check out reviews, they can be so important. You’ll find more than 120 million helpful reviews on Booking.com, and 24/7 customer service.
  • Bargain hunt: Back to school spending is expected to top $27 billion dollars! Every year more and more moms are shopping online because it’s easier to price compare without the kids in tow. On trend clothing this year is denim on denim, embroidery and hoodies, but shoes are a must-have and finding a great way to get the latest most popular shoes at a better price is key. Rack Room Shoes has an ongoing promotion that offers a buy one pair get one 50-percent off! You can find everything from Adidas, to Nikes, to Pumas, and there’s a great selection of trendy backpacks, and fun lunch bags.
  • Snack hack: Try adding freeze-dried fruit to your child’s lunch. The nutritional value is almost identical to fresh fruit, and it tastes much more like real fruit than dried. Crispy Fruit freeze-dried fruit snacks by Crispy Green are made of 100% pure fruit and nothing else. No sugar, sweeteners or additives and they come in 7 flavors. Each bag contains about one serving of fruit and is 55 calories or less. It takes 10-15 pounds of fresh fruit to produce one pound of freeze dried, so there’s a lot of nutrition packed in! Try keeping them in the car with some water bottles to always have a healthy snack when running around after school.
  • Stay organized: Dealing with after school chaos can always be huge task. And then I found a great new app to help streamline everything. BAND is the leading group communication app, and it’s great at streamlining school and after-school activity planning. We all know what it’s like to get those weekly emails from a team or group, lost among hundreds of other emails, it’s particularly frustrating when you’re a coach or group organizer. The app keeps schedules, messaging with the teams and parents, and any last minute updates all in one place. You can even share photos privately with the group.
  • Summer to school transition: Bedtime and mealtime can be more flexible during the summer. Try to start getting into the school year routine before the first bell. It’s easier to get kids to go to bed earlier if you wake them up earlier. And while studies show social media is not directly connected to poor school performance, the closer a device is, the more distracting it is…even if it’s turned off. So park the phone at bedtime, and in the locker during school hours.

For more great travel tips please visit betterstuffforlife.com

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