Back to School Preparations

Can you believe that back to school time is here already? Where did the summer go? It seems like just yesterday we were wiping tears away and making plans with friends so that Peanut wouldn't miss them so much over the long summer. Now that school is about to start, half of our plans never quite made it to fruition. The time flew by too fast! So here were are . . . a week away from the start of school . . . exhausted from trying to squeeze in the last bits of summer fun . . . off the schedule I worked so hard to get them on . . . and really needing to get ourselves ready. With so much to do and so little time, what are your best tips for getting your kids ready for school? I think I'll start here:

1. Back on Schedule - As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."  My girls need their sleep.  Since they'll have to get up early, we'll have to make sure they're in bed early all this week.  
2. Reminder Lessons - During the summer, the girls periodically work in their workbooks to keep some of the things they learned fresh in their minds.  However, they've not been doing this as often as I'd like.  This week, we'll be sure to make sure we remember our sight words, practice counting in the car, and read a little extra each night.  
3. Picking out food - Breakfast is so important for my kiddos.  We make sure we have enough time to eat each day before leaving for school.  After all the work they do in the morning at school, lunch is a necessity too.  My girls aren't "packed lunch" fans though.  They prefer warm foods and leftovers to sandwiches.  We'll have to go out together to pick out healthy foods that they will eat for their lunches.  Fresh fruits and veggies are usually a big hit with both girls.
4. Back to School Supplies - Nothing says back to school like picking out supplies.  I still love the smell of a new box of crayons and the feel of a crisp new sheet of paper just out of the package.  To mentally prepare the girls for the return to school, we will definitely have to go out supply shopping together.  Once everything is labeled and packed in their backpacks, they'll know it is really time to get back to the routine of school.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something important, so I'd love to hear your tips for back to school preparations too!

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get a HarperCollins book set. For more information on how you can participate, click here.