Gulf Coast Family

The end of summer is drawing near and so is the beginning of school. Here are some helpful tips to make the transition back to school go smoothly and help you prepare your children for school.

Talk to your child about school – Remind your children how important school is. Make a point to attend your child's school orientation or open house and make sure to take your child with you. Show them their classroom and be sure to introduce them to their teacher. Also, if possible try to meet some of the other parents and kids before school starts.

Include your child in school shopping – Plan a day to go out with your child to pick out new school supplies. Use this opportunity as another chance to talk about school and what you expect from your child. If you have multiple children, try to take each one out shopping separately. It will make it more meaningful to each one of them and less hectic for you.

"No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness, and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. he effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure."

— Emma Goldman

Begin your school routine early – A couple weeks before school starts, begin waking your child up at the usual morning wake-up times. Also, make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast. In the evenings create a homework routine by turning off the TV and video games and setting aside some time for reading. The night before your children go back to school take time to lay out their clothes and make sure everything is packed and ready to go for the morning.

Celebrate the first day of school – Plan a nice meal with the whole family after the first day back to school. Your children will be full of excitement and will want to share with the family

School Lunches

As a working mom and the parent of four children I understand how tough it can be to put together school lunches that are nutritious and that your children will eat. Packing healthy lunches that your children will enjoy day in and day out certainly isn't an easy task; however here are a few simple tips that will help you as you pack and plan your child's school lunches this year.

• Involve the Children – The more you involve your children in the food shopping and preparation of their lunch, the more likely they are to eat it.
• Be Creative – Any sandwich cut with a large cookie cutter, like a star or heart shape will be more interesting for your children.
• Freeze the Drinks – Freeze a juice pouch or box and then put it in your child's lunch in the morning. It will help keep the drink cool and it will be thawed by lunch time.
• Change the Bread – Bagels, tortillas, pita pockets, muffins, rolls and croissants all make for a nice change from the typical PB&J.
• Make Minis – Kids love things that come in small packages, so try making bite-sized mini versions of regular foods like sandwiches and muffins. You may be surprised how quickly your children eat them up.
• Fruit and Cheese Cubes – Cheese cubes, grapes, sliced apples and mixed fruit are all ideal for a nice school snack.
• Little Dippers – Children love to dip, so try sending yogurt or dressing for your children to dip their fruit and vegetables into.
• Pack a Note – Once a week try to pack something special in your child's lunch like a personal note or a humorous cartoon. It will help to brighten your child's day and put a smile on his or her face. An extra dollar of spending money is also a nice treat.