Well we have all had a few weeks to get used to school being back in session. And now that the kids are in school, we are all whiling away our time with naps, leisurely lunches, and catching up on all of the shows that piled up on the DVR over the summer, right? Ha! Chances are, if you are have school-age children in your family, your home is under constant siege from school handouts, soccer schedules, meal planning, and misplaced homework. Since most of us here at Discount Party Supplies have families with young children, we have put our heads together to come up with some useful products to help keep your family organized, calm, and happy. Besides, we really want you guys to have plenty of time to start planning your Halloween Parties! So here are some back-to-school products that are must-have for busy families!
Banker’s Boxes
Banker’s Boxes are handy to have around for filing old bank statements and investment documents (duh,) but in our house they have another purpose, which is every bit as noble. Kids school papers and art work storage! I don’t know about you, but each of my children bring home approximately twenty handouts each week in their backpacks. There are writing assignments, lab sheets, math workbook pages, etc., the list goes on and on. I have been fighting a losing battle against all of this paper for years, and last year I decided to try something different. I bought a package of banker’s boxes at my local office supply superstore (but you can find them very easily online, if you don’t have a local store that carries them.) They come in a four-pack which is perfect for me, because we have three kids, so each kid gets their own box. The fourth box, we use as an oversized “inbox” where the kids can put their papers at the end of the week. Action items like permission slips, school picture forms etc. are taken out, and dealt with right away, and everything else goes into the extra box. Every other week or so, we go through and weed out items that can be recycled, or tossed. Writing projects, special artwork and other meaningful items go into a box that is labeled with each kid’s name, so we save what is important, and recycle things that we really don’t need. By the way, here is an extra parent tip for you to use when your kids bring home the inevitable, enormous art project that they are incredibly proud of creating. Display the paper mache medieval tower, or popsicle-stick Viking Ship, or whatever it may be for a week or two, and then take a couple of digital pictures of it, and its creator holding it. The picture will last a lifetime, and you won’t have to buy a bigger house to hold all of their masterpieces!
Lunch Thermos
School lunches can be tricky to coordinate on busy weekday mornings. Kids get tired of the same old PB&J or turkey sandwiches, so why not branch out a little? School lunches usually range from mediocre to inedible, and they aren’t always the most nutritious choice for kids, anyway. These 10 oz. Thermos containers keep cold foods chilled for up to eight hours, and hot foods warm for up to five hours. So feel free to send your kids with some nice warm soup, or some leftover mac’n'cheese from tonight’s dinner. Your kids will love it so much more than mystery meat from the cafeteria, or a soggy sandwich! Here’s a handy hint when you are using this. Either heat it up, by putting some hot water in it for a moment before you put food in it, or cool it, by putting some cold water in before you add your chilled foods, so that their lunches will stay at the appropriate temperatures longer!
Divided Lunch Containers
Another great lunch product for you! If you are the parent of a picky eater like mine, having the ability to give your child a variety of food without them “touching each other” is a thing of beauty. They are also fantastic for servings of food that do not store well in sandwich bags! This particular set comes in a set of four containers that clean up easily, are dishwasher safe, and are stackable for easy storage!
Student Planner
A student planner is an absolute necessity for busy kids these days, particularly those in middle school or high school. Kids have so many activities now, that any tools you can give them to stay organized will really help keep their stress levels down, and yours too! These usually include a daily calendar, with entries for homework, projects, and extracurricular activities. Other helpful features are address books, notepads, and more!
Zippered Binder
Zippered binders are the latest and greatest thing for kids in school. Binders have come a long way since the Trapper Keepers that were around when we were kids. These new zippered binders are head and shoulders above standard one or two- inch ring binders in many ways, not the least of which is this: things don’t fall out! Most of these binders also come with pockets galore, zippered pen/pencil cases, and sometimes even slots for calculators or cell phones! They are very reasonably priced, usually at less than ten dollars, and are perfect for kids who have a number of subjects that they need to keep organized!
Aluminum Water Bottle
The value of these water bottles cannot be overstated, as far as I am concerned! Kids need to stay hydrated through the school day, to help keep them healthy, happy, and focused. Aluminum water bottles are reusable, dishwasher-safe, and inexpensive. Plastic water bottles are not cheap, there are health concerns about BPA exposure as the plastic breaks down, and they are not great for the environment. Drinking fountains at school are germ factories during the cold and flu season, and making sure that my kids have a clean water source is worth its weight in gold.
Combination Message Board
I got this message board last year, and it has been a godsend for our family. We have three kids, and they all have the standard range of activities of grade-school kids; soccer, scouts, band, piano lessons, etc. When you combine that with work and family/social engagements that we all have, it makes for a pretty loaded schedule, and it is easy for events to get overlooked or forgotten. A whiteboard with a blank calendar that can be filled in every month will help you stay organized, and let you know at a glance what appointments, practices, and rehearsals are happening this week. The corkboard at the bottom is perfect for posting schedules, party invitations, and notes that come home from school. The blank whiteboard section allows you to jot down a note, or make a quick list, or even just a reminder for everyone to have a great day!
Now we’re not saying that these products will turn your family into a model of efficiency, and that you will always be perfectly organized, and stress-free, but they will help. A lot. Give some of them a try, because let’s face it, every little bit of help we can get, is great!
Product Links: Bankers Box, Lunch Thermos, Student Planner, Binder, Water Bottle, Bulletin Board
