Tip of the Week – Back to School Supplies for Moms!
So by now you’ve outfitted your children with brand new notebooks, paper, glue sticks (I once had to send in 12!) and tracked down those specialty colored pencils that were required by the art teacher! But really smart mothers will also lay in a stash of supplies befitting a “Category 10″ homework disaster! Prepared parents can laugh in the face of last minute book reports, poster board presentations and dioramas and avoid late night trips to the craft or drug store by assembling the following supply list:
Beginner
- Regular and colored pencils
- Sharpener
- Pens
- Markers
- Crayons
- Poster board (both traditional and foam core)
- Construction paper
- Plain white printer paper
- Report covers
- Post it notes
- Glue
- Glue sticks
- Rubber cement
- Tape
- Scissors
- Stapler filled with staples
- Paper clips
- Rubber bands
- Extra ink cartridges for your printer (color and black & white)
Expert
- A few notebooks
- Sharpie markers
- String
- Cotton balls
- Graph paper
- Masking tape
- Glitter
- Pom poms
- Hole punch
- Stickers (especially letters of the alphabet)
- Chenille pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- A set of stencils for cutting out letters for poster board titles!
Once you’ve gathered these items (even if they seem a bit repetitive of what you’ve just purchased for school), go ahead and store the extra supplies in a clear plastic bin that is completely off limits from routine homework assignments or after school play! Remember – this kit is for emergencies only!
When this last “back to school” task is complete, you can rest assured that your family can handle any and all surprises!
Adapted from Real Simple, October 2004
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- Clever Ideas for the First Day of School
- Pack a “Green” Lunch
- Have a Fabulous First Day of School
- Make the Most of Your Parent Teacher Conference
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Great tip Host Bee. I also like to keep a similar kit in the trunk of my car. Having the right school supplies on hand while you wait for a sibling at a piano lesson or soccer practice can help get a jump start on homework and head off a late night disaster. A few snacks and water bottles on hand in the car can make the after school time easier.