‘Things are not going to be perfect’: Back to school tips from The Mom in The Know
With back to school around the corner, former teacher and current mom-blogger Julie Findlay has plenty of helpful advice for parents and their kids to make the most of their first day.
“It just takes a community and a collaboration to get things done,” Findlay told CTV News in a virtual interview. “I've made it my mission since 2006 to make sure I keep everyone in the know.”
Here are her top tips for parents:
Shopping
Don’t stress about back-to-school shopping right now, Findlay said. Rather, parents can give themselves a break and wait for a list from their teacher about what the student needs and more importantly, what they don’t need to have.
“So, one binder. One pen. One backpack. One lunch for the first day,” she said.
Lunches
Findlay says parents should include their kids in the return to making daily lunches by bringing their kids to the grocery store to pick out healthy choices. And, kids can also be a part of the meal-prep.
“It's actually fun having kids in the kitchen chopping, putting together the lunches that they like and possibly even the dinners, therefore the leftover lunches,” she said.
Sleeping
It’s not too late to sleep train your kids away from staying up late and sleeping in. But Findlay also says parents need not worry, sleep habits will improve on their own.
“Mother Nature does that. It gets darker earlier, so things wind down a little bit earlier,” she explained. “And that sort of is the clock itself helping you out.”
Findlay does warn parents: your kids will likely be exhausted by the end of week one.
“Luckily, it's a shorter one because it's after the long weekend (and) the weekends (are) where we get to sleep,” she said.
Learning
Findlay recommends parents help their kids go from lounging to learning by pulling out a deck of cards or a board game a few times between now and Sept. 6.
“It's critical thinking. You're having them create their opinions, speaking in a group of people,” Findlay said. “Those are all sort of teachable moments that you didn't even know you're doing but it kind of gets them back into problem-solving, looking at things or even those conversations at the dinner table.”
Homework
Findlay suggests saving the box when you buy your child a pair of new sneakers for school. She uses her children’s to create a “study box” for homework.
“You're gonna have your pens in it, your pencils, your book, whatever you need, and you bring your office anywhere in the house to do your homework. So you're kind of creating these spaces for success,” she said.
Health
Make sure exercise or time outdoors is a key component of every day, says Findlay.
“I feel like most of our kids have spent all of their time outside,” she said. “And now we're going to transition to a lot of their time inside.”
Pencil time into their daily routine, likely after school, for exercise or free play outdoors, regardless of their age. Findlay recommends parents check out the Ottawa Heart Institute website, and take some advice from their Jump-in campaign.
“There are people in our communities (who) are really trying to make sure kids do stay outside and I definitely think that is my biggest tip,” she said.
Coping
Above all else, Findlay says parents should be prepared for whatever back to school brings. She notes kids are resilient and have already managed to cope with the pandemic.
“Things are not going to be perfect. And I think we as parents have to give that sort of leeway to have our kids make their own mistakes and help them through it.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.