Back to school time is upon us and the best way to have a smooth transition to the hectic school year is to get organized and plan ahead. Today I thought I’d share a few simple tips and tools to help you have a smoother transition and hopefully a less stressful school year.

Establish a Bed Time Routine

Bed time routines aren’t just for babies and toddlers. we all benefit from a wind down period before heading off to dreamland. Make a list of what needs to happen nightly before your child goes to bed-bath, prayers, story, choose clothes for the next day, homework, pack lunch, organize backpack etc. This list is up to you. Kids ages 5-12 need 10-12 hours a sleep for their bodies to adequately recharge while 13-18 year olds need 8-10 hours of sleep. Make sure you plan your bedtime routine to insure your child gets enough sleep.

Once you have created your list and chosen an appropriate bedtime, work backwards from that bedtime and figure out how long your bedtime routine is going to take (usually about an hour). Start introducing your child to the bedtime routine 1-2 weeks before school starts so that they will become used to the routine and thus more comfortable with the procedure. Kids thrive on structure and when they know it is time to start winding down they will enjoy their bedtime routine and so will you.

Prepare the Night Before 

Another way to make school time easier is to prepare the night before. If your kids are in elementary school and go to bed early then you can pack lunches, set out their clothes and organize backpacks once they are in bed. Everything you can accomplish the night before makes the mornings go more smoothly.

Establish a Morning Routine

A morning routine is just as important as a bedtime routine. A smooth morning at home sets the tone for the entire day. You can structure your routine to suit your family but a few suggestions include doing some breakfast menu planning so you know what is for breakfast each morning, this also eliminates everyone asking for something different, you can have cold cereal and juice one day, bagels and peanut butter another etc. Make sure the routine includes getting dressed, brushing hair and teeth and any morning chores. Again, work on this for a few weeks before school starts and make sure you wake the children in time to accomplish everything in a calm manner before it is time to leave for school or child care centers.

Create a Central Calendar and Message Center

Have a central spot with a calendar that has plenty of room for each family member’s activities. This should be kept near a file box where you can have a file for each person’s important papers. When a paper comes home from school, sports, church etc immediately write the info on the calendar and file the paper in that person’s file folder for future reference. That way as an event nears you can pull out the paper and check if there is anything you are supposed to bring to the event or if there is a cost involved. Having a central calendar also cuts down on overlapping schedules and makes it easier for everyone to see what the day/week looks like. I like to use a calendar that has spaces for each family member’s schedule or I use a different color for each person to help keep our schedules straight.

Look Ahead

I like to spend some time on Sunday evening going over the week ahead’s schedule with my husband. This way we can work together to help make the week run smoothly and make notes of who is carting which kid where, who is cooking dinner which nights and any evening meetings or events we have where childcare might be needed at home. It usually takes about a half an hour but it sure saves time and reduces stress during the week.

I’m sure there are lots of other tips out there so please share yours in the comments section!

The post Tuesday Tips-Back to School Preparation appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Party Basics:

• Arrange guests in small comfortable groups, to foster mingling (this can be done with small tables or even over-sized picnic blankets with filled baskets anchoring the corners)
• Offer fun water toys/floats for parties with a pool
• Enhance ground seating with rugs, pillows, or blankets
• Serve up a rain date on the invite so there is always a contingency plan

Buffet Basics:

• Arrange food by this order: entrees, sides, salads, bread, butter, and condiments, and always prepare extra portions
• Provide enough extra dishes and silverware for second helpings to be enjoyed on clean dishes
• Position the drink table away from the buffet to avoid traffic jams
• Offer leftovers in take-away containers, especially to guests who have children

Beyond Basics:

• Create a signature theme with a recipe, color, music, or games
• Send guests home with a gift bag that relates to your theme

Be creative and make sure you allow yourself to relax and have fun during your party. What are some of your favorite outdoor party themes? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.

Disclosure: This blog uses affiliate links.

The post Tuesday Tips-Outdoor Entertaining appeared first on The Mom Maven.

1. Plan each person’s wardrobe on paper first, one page per person. Write specifics and list each outfit separately including socks, shoes and underwear.
2. Gather one person’s clothes at a time and check off each piece as you pack it.
3. Roll clothes instead of folding them. Rolled clothes wrinkle less and take up less room in the suitcase.
4. Minimize the toiletries, share shampoo, toothpaste etc.
5. Pack gallon size zipper bags for wet swimsuits etc.
6. Pack a large garbage bag for dirty clothes.
7. Divide your valuables. If something happens to one suitcase, you won’t lose all of your valuables. Also only pack necessary valuables.
8. If you are flying remember you can only carry-on one small suitcase and your personal item (tote/purse etc) so plan appropriately.
9. If you are driving and need to stop for a night before reaching your final destination-pack one bag with everyone’s next day clothes. This way you don’t have to lug every suitcase into the hotel and rifle through them to find your travel clothes.
10. Don’t forget your medicines, sunscreen, sunglasses, cellphones and all of your necessary chargers.

I hope these tips help make packing for your summer vacation a bit easier for you. Do you have a tip I didn’t list? Leave it in the comments so we can all learn from your expertise!

The post Tuesday Tips-Packing for a Family Vacation appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Top 5 Tips New Parents Need to Know from BornFree:

BornFree is the leading chemical free/BPA-free baby bottle line

1. Get your home in order before the baby arrives: Clean, organize, and find a place to store all baby products, so they can be easily accessible.

2. Find the places that are open all night and who will deliver to your home – keep a running and accessible list of nearby pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. and have these numbers readily available.

3. Keeping your baby safe is the most important. Products that are BPA and chemical free are essential.

4. Try and lock down a sleep schedule ahead of time to adjust to both your needs and your baby needs. Taking turns between parents is a great way to ensure both parties are tending to the baby while taking care of their own health as well and getting as much rest as they possibly can.

5. Read up beforehand and don’t be afraid to ask your pediatrician questions before the baby even arrives in your home such as what to expect for feeding, sleeping and general care of your child.

About Born Free (www.newbornfree.com )

BornFree has developed a range of products baby bottles, cups and accessories that is totally free of the potentially dangerous chemicals Bisphenol-A (BPA), Phthalates and PVC. BPA is a known estrogen mimicker that is used in the production of polycarbonate plastic. According to researchers, BPA may cause developmental and neurological problems if it leaches from plastic. Reports suggest that small amounts of BPA may leach into food or beverages stored in polycarbonate containers, especially when the contents are heated. In addition, BornFree’s cups and bottles feature the unique BornFree venting system, designed to reduce colic and ear infections.

The post Tuesday Tips-For New Parents appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Did you know that:

• 63% of bicycling fatalities were due to head injuries? (Children’s Safety Network)
• In 2006 95% of cyclists involved in fatal accidents were not wearing helmets. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• 56% of all bicycle related emergency room visits are for children ages 0-14 (CPSC)

Bike helmets must fit and be worn properly to do their job. Try the helmet on and make sure it fits snuggly. Have your child pick out their own bicycle helmet. They are less likely to complain about wearing it if they pick the design. If they already have a helmet, let them personalize it with stickers or markers so that it shows off their personality.   Always read the literature that comes with the helmet and adjust it properly. Make sure the bike helmet sits flat on your child’s head, not leaning back so the forehead is exposed and not tilted forward either.

Next week’s tips will cover basic bicycling safety.

The post Tuesday Tips- Bicycle Helmets appeared first on The Mom Maven.

This weeks numbers are from Samantha!

16th picture folder
28th picture

or

August 2008 {the host’s 16th picture folder}
28th picture

This picture is from Christmas 2008. It is of my son Aaron opening his new bowling shoes. Aaron had wanted his own bowling shoes for the past few years but his feet grew so fast we didn’t invest in them, until know. He was so excited.

Have fun with your pictures! Join in the Random Picture Challenge.

The post Tuesday Tip-Have Fun With your Photos appeared first on The Mom Maven.