It’s time to fall back into school standard time

Mon., Aug. 23, 2004

Family notes Mary Beth Donelan

BACK TO SCHOOL can be a hectic time for the entire family. It means getting back to a daily routine and adjusting to a new busy schedule. Here’s a way to plan ahead and raise your household grade according to Patty Grenda, creator of The Family Planner, with some simple back-to-school tips:

• Practice getting the children up early one week before school starts to aid in the transition.

• Pick a designated spot in the home for doing homework. This “homework spot” should be quiet, well-lit, and contain the basic school supplies needed to complete most homework assignments.

• Try to have children do homework after school when the lessons are still fresh in their minds. Leaving homework until the evening, when children are likely to be tired, can be counterproductive.

• Since children are most content on a full stomach, offer a healthy snack before or during homework.

• Always have children put homework in their backpack when completed to avoid any missing assignments.

• Pick out school clothes the night before. Involving children in the decision-making is a great idea and will save valuable time in the morning.

• Preparing lunches the night before can also lessen the load in the morning, as well as, be a fun thing for kids to do.

• Limit caffeine and sugar intake after dinner, since either can have a negative effect on some children and their ability to fall asleep.

• Reading with your children before bed is a perfect opportunity to wind down and spend quality time together while enjoying a good book.

• Use a daily planner to keep school functions and extra-curricular activities organized. The Family Planner is a full-size daily planner starting in September with the new school year. Its 16-month calendar is just one of the many features. The user-friendly format makes it a great organizational tool for the entire family. The Family Planner was designed to keep stress out of the home by offering a planning system that really works. For more information: www.thefamilyplanner.com

Book protection

Gone are the days of cutting up paper bags to cover books. Book Sox has created the fabric book cover to protect hard-covered books, such as textbooks, novels, dictionaries and encyclopedias. You will never have to fold, tape or measure paper products to protect those books again. The Book Sox, designed by parents who were tired of messy and frayed book covers that never lasted, is a reusable, nonshrink fabric cover made with high quality stretchable nylon engineering to fit books of all sizes. They are available in dozens of hip, funky patterns, as well as a variety of vivid solid colors. When they become dirty, just pop them off and into the washing machine.

Book Sox can be found at Staples, Jo-Ann stores, Eckerd and other retailers, or order online at www.Booksox.com They are available in two sizes (standard and jumbo) ranging in price from $2.99 to $4.99 and are guaranteed to be free from all defects by the manufacturer.

First day tips

The first day of school can be traumatic — for both children and parents. Here are some tips to help your child say goodbye with a smile.

• Visit school over the summer by driving by and casually pointing it out. Be sure to play in the school playground a few times and if the school’s open, take a short tour.

• Shop for supplies together as your child will have fun picking them out. Have a picnic in your living room and let her practice eating out of her new lunchbox.

• Have a goodbye ritual (a secret handshake, high five, special kiss) and practice now. Leave your child with a baby sitter or relative and show how you’ll come back at the time you say.

• Create a first-day-of-school tradition such as taking a picture in the same spot, baking a special cake, getting up early and going out for breakfast.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.