Back to School

With record-breaking temperatures across the country, it is hard to believe that summer is winding down and coming to an end.  Across the United States summer camps are ending and families are preparing for the fall and the fear of most American children is being realized.  School is starting soon.  However, worrying about the start of classes is also shared by many parents.  Figuring out a fall school schedule is difficult and school supplies are expensive.  Inflation rates have been declining but the cost of preparing our children to return to school will still be expensive.

Reuse When Possible

What is the difference between a pencil bought this year vs one purchased six months ago?  The answer is nothing.  An older pencil might have less life left in it but that does not stop it from being functional.  This is just one simple example of a common theme when looking at what supplies our children need.  Much of what they already have will still work.  It is unrealistic to think that we do not need to buy new school supplies, but it is also not true that everything must be brand new.  Binders, paper, writing utensils, paper clips, and countless other supplies can be recycled and used for a new school year.  The first step when accessing what your child or children will need for the upcoming year is to take stock of what you already have.  If you have multiple children, consider switching up who has what supplies.  This way a reused item is still fun and new for a different child.  Once you have a better understanding of what you have and what you will need you can move on to the next step.  Making a shopping list.

Purchasing New

Knowing what you have and what you need to buy is the first step in making a smart purchasing choice.  The best way to save money is not to be wasteful and only buying what you need.  However, there are other ways to save when shopping for supplies.  Another way to save money is to do your research and look for sales.  Starting early is the key to being successful on this front.  Procrastinators purchase what is available because they might not have a choice.  This is not the case in early August.   This is the time when we should be looking at sales offered by different businesses and purchasing when an item is being offered at a discount.  Another great way to save on school supplies is to avoid brand named products.  Look for products that put function over looks and reputation.  It is important for a pencil to write and for paper to be a median to store information.  We do not need a colorful writing utensil or fancy paper.  Yes, it is fun to have them, but they are not necessary. 

Figuring out a Routine

One of the most difficult challenges of a new school year is we all should come up with new routines.  Parents must work to provide for families, but they also must ensure their children get to and from school.  Some children take daily busses while others need to be dropped off and picked up from school.  How do we ensure that this all happens in a safe environment?   This is a problem with no right or wrong answer.  The only way to ensure that things go well is to create a solid plan and to execute it well.  Working with your partner, your parents (aka the grandparents), or even hiring part-time help to ensure everyone gets to where they need to be in a timely manner are all feasible options.   Furthermore, it is not necessary to have a firm plan in place on day one.  It is important to have an idea of what should happen and a basic framework in place.  If something does not work, you can always make changes to your initially planned routine.  However, things will not go well if you do not plan to start with.

Setting an Expectation

Having the right supplies and creating a framework for a daily routine are important when preparing our children and households for the back-to-school season.  However, the single most important thing we need to do before school starts is sit down with our children and set an expectation.  Part of being a parent is making sure our children understand what we expect from them.  If we do not spend the time talking to them and telling them what we expect they will never succeed.  Communication is the key to any successful relationship, and this includes the bond between parents and children.  Mistakes will be made, and lessons will be learned, that is inevitable, but we must at least try to do what is right.  Spend a few minutes talking about the importance of good listening and making good choices. Doing so will only set our children up for success.

As summer break winds down, we must start thinking about the future.  It is never too early to make plans and prepare for what is coming.  Being diligent will help us save money in the long run and will set us up for a successful start to the school year.