As if one backpack wasn’t crazy enough, the Backpack bloggers now have a second backpack to give away on Just Precious! This time, we’re going to make the contest a bit lighter and brighter, just like Just Precious!
Have you heard about the contents of the Back to School Backpack? Its seriously overflowing. I mean, there’s just no way that the pack could fit all of the items we’re giving away.
So, what’s inside?
Fill the Backpack Contents
(note that the winner will receive just one of each of the items pictured, and either the Leap Frog Tag system OR the Leap Frog Explorer system.)
As a parent and former teacher, I was shocked this year by how anxious I was about Big entering first grade at a new school. Between meeting new friends (both him and me), a new teacher, and new expectations where no one knew him, it was scary!
Fortunately, this is Big’s 3rd day of school and he’s happy. His 1st grade teacher is wonderful and he’s making friends all the time. I loved how happy he was yesterday afternoon when he got off the bus. Its an amazing lift, seeing your child smile like that.
Middle started school yesterday and he was a bit more apprehensive. But once we were inside the classroom today, he was so excited to show me all the parts of the room that he learned the day before. Plus, there’s a Hamster in his Pre-K class, which will, hopefully, always be a draw for him.
And, amazingly, Little begins “school” tomorrow. We signed up for a Mommy and Me at our preschool and I’m so excited for her to interact with the other one-year-olds.
Having three kids in school is a big deal, you know? There is so much to do and so much to organize and keep straight. I’m finding that switching to my phone calendar app hasn’t worked well for me because I really need to have it all mapped out in front of me. So, I’m switching back to a datebook calendar. Have you checked out the planner by Orange Circle Studio? There’s one in the backpack! Its ideal because it has a spot for 4 family members so you can keep everything separate.
This year, our preschool is hosting a learning series for parents. We’ll start with a wine and cheese and then one (or a few) of our parents will lead a workshop to introduce a hobby or skill that parents want to learn. Its a community building/fundraising project and I just can’t wait for our first evening. Our topic will be Back-to-School Organization, led by a parent who is a Professional Organizer. For all of my ideas that I’ve had and shared about getting organized in the past, I really need a workshop on this right now.
Since I have to wait 3 weeks until the workshop, I need to hear your tips and ideas right now. Do you have good products to suggest? Secrets that really need to be shared? What do you do to help your family stay organized? Share your ideas and you could win a Back to School Backpack!
Enter to win this fabulous backpack which has now been over-filled with goodies! To enter:
- Comment to this post, telling a back-to-school organization tip
- on twitter? retweet this post using the green retweet button below. I’ll receive notice that you retweeted, please do not reply about it here.
Want another chance to win? You can enter on the blogs of other Backpack Bloggers, too.
The winning entry will be selected via the contest commenter plugin for wordpress. Winners must be residents of the United States to win and will be contacted at the close of this contest, on September 9 at midnight EST. Winner will have 24 hours to reply to the e-mail announcing her win. If she does not respond within 24 hours, an alternate winner will be chosen.
This promotion is sponsored by Ziploc. There’s still time to enter at several other sites as well as Just Precious! Check out the Fill the Backpack webpage for more information.
© 2010, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.
i make sure everything is packed the night before. That always helps to make mornings run smoothly.
Twitter: DaddysToolbox
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The wife and I get our kids backpacks ready the night before. And on karate days, which are after school, we put their outfits/gia in the front pocket of their backpack. We also make sure any communication back to our son’s KDG is in his “comm folder”, like papers we have to read and sign, or payment (it’s a private full-day school), and make sure we clean our any drawings or artwork.
Lunches sometimes get packed the night before and sometimes during the rush hour in the kitchen in the morning. If the night before, we get everything in the lunchbag and stick in fridge.
As soon as my son gets home from school I clean out his backpack and put everything in the correct “spot”. Permission slips and forms I need to fill out in 1 spot, cute art projects in another, etc. I clean out his leftover lunch yuckies and get the bag set for the next day. Saves time in the am, and I never forget a form.
My biggest problems are 1) getting the kids focused on homework and 2) forgetting something.
For homework, I designate ‘homework time’ right before and right after dinner. The before dinner session works well because this kids already had time to play upon returning home for school. They setup in the livingroom as I prepare dinner. If they finsish their before dinner…great. If not, I set up my own ‘homework’ time after dinner where I either assit them with questions or work on my own tasks (bills, shopping lists, etc).
For organization, I created two ‘school bins in the foyer. The first thing the kids do is put everything in their bin when coming home. Throughout the evening, items are always returned to the bin and/or next day’s items are placed inside so they are ready to go on our way out. Next to the bins I have a calendar with post-its/paper and push pins. Anything related to the kid’s schedule are located here. I also have a daily checklist that we review on the way out so make sure we haven’t forgotten anything.
Back to School Organization tip – label everything with first and last name and child’s room number or teacher. This way it has a better chance of returning.
We have a docking station set up. It’s just a tall Trofast system from Ikea that we’ve customized to fit out needs that the kids use to hold at home school supplies, schedules, filing system and recycle bin for handling anything and everything they need to take to school or need at home.
we get everything ready the night before.Clothes ,shoes,backpacks and lunches so we are ready for morning
My favorite back to school organization tip is to make sure the backpack and the lunch box and everything you need for the next day is always in the same place so you are not racing all over looking for it in the morning.
Each night after homework I go through the kids back packs, sign anything that needs to be signed and make sure it gets put back in. I also clean out anything that doesn’t need to be saved anymore. egoettner@yahoo.com
I pack her lunch the night before. It really helps reduce the rushing in the morning. We also use Accountable Kids and her morning chores include grabbing her lunch bag from the fridge, getting dressed and hair done, and putting everything in her backpack so she’s ready to go. The homework and school papers are not too bad because the school has a communication folder that holds everything on a daily basis. I’m still working on a way to keep track of her school calendar. We have a great system with pockets and calender, but I find that I’m not using it as much as the AK, because it’s behind their door in their room. I think if it were out in the hallway, I’d be much more likely to use it.
my best tip is to let your child help shop for snacks and lunch items, then let them help you pack it up. THey are more likely to eat it if they chose it!
Sorting papers has been a challenge. I still haven’t got it down, but a couple of things help. I got magnetic folder holders to attach to the side of the fridge. They hold a folder for each child, so that whatever paperwork comes in that I need to hang on to, I pop it in there. They also each have one of those big artwork envelopes (from a craft supply store) slid next to the fridge. Each one has a different color piece of ribbon tied to the handle, so I don’t have to pull them both out to search for their names. I throw all their stuff in there and go through it at the end of the year, downsize it, take digital pics of artwork that I really like, but don’t want to keep, then I keep a select few pieces with character in a gallon zip-loc bag.
Waking up before my kids to get a shower and eat breakfast has been a lifesaver!
Twitter: fromleft2write
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I try to get everything ready the night before: lunches, snacks, clothes, and backpacks.
backpacks are packed the night before and left by the door, lunches are decided on and made, as well as outfits picked.
A big dry erase calendar works wonders for our family. The children can schedule the holidays off, after school practices, games, and homework. I can add dentist and dr. appts and we can all see the big picture daily. You can by dry erase calendars with 120 and 90 days at a glance. It will help a lot!
Well we are a homeschooling family (our first year since our oldest is only 3.5) and to get organized I first wrote down a list of items I felt we needed or wanted for school. As we picked items up I crossed them off the list and put them away until we started. I still need to pick up a few things to help us organize like binders, folders and more paper, but for the most part everything is all ready for us to start next week.
One tip that I’ve abided by for years is to set clothes and papers out the night before. That way the kids are not rushing around trying to find out what to wear or where their items are at. Keep all the stuff in one spot. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I make sure my younger kids backpacks are ready the night before. I make sure to have my teens go through their backpacks once in awhile to get rid of the stuff they don’t need. If not, there backpack just remains full of papers.
I’m all about the calendar. As soon as there are dates for stuff, its on the calendar. I also have a binder w/ a tab for each kid. 3 kids, all in different schools this year…..crazy!
Well, since this is my son’s first year of kindergarten I haven’t quite figured out a good system yet. One thing I have learned is to make sure he gets to bed early. Things seem to run more smoothly in the morning when he’s not so tired. I also make sure everything is ready the night before. **all these comments are very helpful!**
Twitter: JustAnotNewBlog
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My tip is to have everything for back to school ready a month in advance to avoid the mad shopping dash! And stock up on supplies during the year, anytime you see a good sale.
We definitely have tried to have everything prepared the night before with lunches and back packs. The biggest improvement to our morning rush has been to make sure each child chooses their own outfits the night before. Having them choose what they want to wear the next day seems to get them dressed much faster in the morning. We also have everything in the bathroom downstairs that they may need to get ready (brush, comb, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.) so we don’t have extra trips up and down the stairs.
I make sure that lunches are ready to go, the backpacks packed and clothes are set out the night before!
I’m too late for the back pack. I would have loved theses supplies to add to my home school supplies. My tip – even at home, is to get an inexpensive label maker and stick the labels on notebooks and such.
Thanks!
Twitter: justprecious
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Great tip. I love my label maker.
Twitter: VectoringMomma
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Hi! I would love to build my little guys a cubby with hooks near the door to put all their school supplies, shoes, and hang their backpacks on!
@VectoringMomma tonikaye24 at yahoo dot com
For my school organization tip is to make sure that after supper every evening, I go through all the papers, sign papers, do homework and have it all back in the backpack and hanging on the desingnated hook by the front door. Have complete outfit wiht shoes laid out the night before. I bake ahead like muffins, make and freeze pancakes and waffles for breakfast. Makes for easy, organized morning.
Twitter: juliempron
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Making and freezing pancakes and waffles is brilliant. My kids would love to live in your house!