Every year my parents asked if I wanted a new lunch box before the school year. My answer was always the same. I carried the same lunch box for eight years with pride. I still have that beat-up keepsake; invariably, when I mention it sits atop my fridge and holds my coupons, I hear, “I bet that’s worth some cash,” as if I am ready to sell.
Properly preparing kids and families for back-to-school begins now; all the necessary supplies, clothes, and shoes, and planning for carpools and physicals take shape in August. As a locally-owned company, we care about families. We hope these Back-to-School Strategies will help kids and families start strong this school year.
Back To School Strategy #1
Create a Wall of Distinction in Your Home.
This award center helps build self-esteem and maintain focus through positive reinforcement. For children, posting accolades and graded papers becomes a gentle reminder that hard work pays off. Get the kiddos involved in planning an organized display space that showcases school accomplishments.
Back To School Strategy #2
Foster Proper Sleep Habits
Parents may consider incrementally adjusting their children’s bed and wake times in 15-minute increments each day, beginning a few weeks before the first day of school. By day one, they should be adjusted to the new sleep schedule and ready to go.
Multiple studies suggest that the blue light produced by digital devices suppresses melatonin, the hormone that tells the body it’s time to sleep. Ongoing research indicates that evening screen usage delays falling asleep and can compromise sleep quality. Limiting screen time before bed may be challenging; however, well-rested children have greater control of their emotions and learn better. (Source; Merck Manual & The Sleep Foundation). Better sleep hygiene could also be a sound idea for grownups in our increasingly busy world.
Back To School Strategy #3
Choose the Right Backpack
According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), back pain is a common complaint among adults. Children and teenagers suffer much earlier than previous generations, a contributing factor being an overweight backpack. Kids carry as much as a quarter of their body weight. ACA recommends that a fully loaded backpack weighs at most 5% – 10% of the child’s weight. The National Safety Council advises choosing an appropriate size: A backpack should not be wider than your child’s torso or hang more than 4 inches below the waist. Waist and chest straps help distribute the backpack’s weight more evenly across your child’s back; multiple compartments help position the weight more effectively.
The Beatles lunch box that protected my jelly sandwich from being smashed too many times to count also doubled as my “booster seat” on the bus. I even rode it down our icy driveway once. It remains a treasured, rusty reminder of my Back-to-School Days. The Omega Home Studio team wishes your family a productive, restful, safe school year.
Ensuring your home is a welcoming, safe, and functional place for you & your family to return to at the end of a school or workday is at the heart of what we do.