We are in back-to-school time and when you have kids in preschool, elementary and college like I do, it can be a balancing act trying to organize multiple aged children in the house. From easy weeknight dinners to time saving hacks, the following guide is to help families balance the back-to-school season with parent tested tips and expert resources.
How to Use the Back-To-School Guide:
Click on the links and pictures to get direct product information, tips and resources.
Saving Money on Back to School
Back to school expenses really add up, especially when you have multiples. Save some money by shopping back to school sales tax holidays. Each state has different days, so check yours before heading out to shop!
Clothing is the biggest expense for us when it comes to school. Take advantage of clearance sales and discounts that are offered regularly like at retail giant, Target. Shopping at secondhand stores, i.e., Goodwill can save you 50% or more on clothing expenses. Sometimes, you can even find like-new backpacks and lunch boxes! They get different stock in daily, so start your hunt early and go back often if you want to stock up on school clothes for the year.
Ease back to school shopping stress with these tips. Save on back to school supplies by shopping online.
Homework Tips
Homework is a big part of going back-to-school, because it’s one of the toughest adjustments for most kids. Whether your kids are in elementary school or all the way up in high school, having the whole summer off and then being thrown back into a routine with homework can cause struggles. Creating a dedicated space for homework and studying can help minimize the stress caused by this transition. Having a homework space available throughout the year (for reading and writing) will make it seem like less of a change when the kids head back to school.
If your child has a tough time focusing, consider using an egg timer or even a large sand timer to keep them on task for 15 minutes at a time. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but 15 minutes of truly focused time can go a long way.
Each student should have their own study space, so they can feel comfortable using their own supplies and not have to worry about siblings stealing their pens. A comfortable study space is a must, especially if your child is having trouble learning. If you don’t have the space for each child to have their own study area, you can create study baskets. Each child will have their own, and all supplies stay in the basket unless they’re being used. Create a schedule so each person gets their own time to study and work on their schoolwork. Read more homework tips here.
Easy School Lunches and Breakfast Ideas
Organize your kitchen before you start packing lunches. Having a clean counter space and everything in its own spot will minimize the time it takes to get the lunches packed for the week.
It’s important to keep food simple and fun, especially for picky eaters! We love to make homemade “lunchables” with chicken nuggets! Other fun favorites include crackers with cheese and meat, and a variety of sandwiches. If your kids are adventurous and will eat tuna and chicken salad, you can prepare it in bulk ahead of time and just scoop it out for their lunch each day. Veggie slices, cheese sticks, and other healthy snacks are all popular choices for back to school lunches. You can add crackers, trail mix, and any other snacks your kids like.
After School Snacks
Recipes from the Web
I like these ham and cheese pinwheels. They’d make a tasty after-school snack, too.
These chicken parmesan meatballs are easy to reheat, tasty to eat even when they’re cold!
Leftover breakfasts make awesome school lunches.
Did you know you can make peanut butter and jelly sushi? Tastes better than it sounds, I promise!
A healthier version of pizza rolls is a great option to keep Mom and kids happy!
Get even more healthy school lunch ideas from 100 Days of Real Food.
Easy Weekday Dinners
Throughout the school year, especially during Fall and Winter, our slow cooker gets a workout for sure. Between the slow cooker, Instant Pot and freezer meals, we have delicious and healthy dinners without a ton of effort. This leaves more time for homework, and winding down before bed, keeping school night stress to a minimum.
One thing that helps save my sanity at meal time is a plan. Whether you cook once a week and do freezer meals or cook every night using something like this Instant Pot meal plan, being prepared is key. You don’t want to be rushing to the grocery store three times a week, and you definitely don’t want to be stuck ordering pizza because you forgot about dinner!
You can cook anything in the Instant Pot: mac and cheese, cheeseburger pie, lasagna, and even Kung Pao chicken!
Recipes from Mami of Multiples
Turkey Croquettes – using leftover turkey (could do ham or chicken, too!)
Burrito Pie (freezer meal)
Chicken Parmesan Casserole (freezer meal)
Easy Breakfast Casserole (breakfast for dinner!)
Slow Cooker Pollo Guisado (Chicken and Potatoes Stew)
Make it fun!
The most important thing to remember about back to school time is to have fun! Kids get stressed out when they pick up on our stress, so keeping it light and fun is best for everyone. If anytime during the school year, your kid(s) are heading to a new school, take time to tour the school and meet the teachers before the school change occurs.
If you know other parents at the school, plan some playdates so your kids and their kids can meet up. It’s so much easier to start the school year with friends! Simply having someone to sit by at lunch or say “hi” to in the hall makes a world of difference.
See more back-to-school content by clicking: HERE
Wishing Everyone a Happy and Blessed New School Year!
