12 minute read
Craft Corner
DIY Crayon Shoes
Summer has flown by once again, and it’s already time to prepare to head back to school! Spend an hour making these custom shoes for your little one or your favorite teacher! Step one: Paint white shoes in your main color. Allow to dry completely and paint a second coat. Step two: Paint on black crayon stripes. We eyeballed this step, but if you would like the stripes to line up, you can draw on with either a pen or pencil and then paint. Allow to dry completely, then repaint stripes again. Step three: Allow shoes to dry completely and then clean up any paint. Step four: For the plastic, you will use 100% acetone with either a cotton ball or Q-Tip. Step five: For the canvas, you will put a tiny bit of hand sanitizer onto the paint you need to remove. Let sit for a minute and then use a toothbrush to scrub. Dry area with a paper towel or rag. Allow to dry, then repaint that section.
Janelle Cumro-Sultzer lives in Manhattan, KS, with her husband, two children and two dogs. Janelle loves to focus on learning through play and getting messy with crafts.
Pencil Creatures
School Bus Photo Frame Fabric Covered Organizers
Materials needed:
• White canvas shoes • Paintbrush • Acrylic paint in your chosen colors • Paint palette
Optional, but you’ll probably need these items:
• 100% acetone nail polish remover • Hand sanitizer without aloe • Old toothbrush • Cotton balls and/or Q-Tips
BACK-TO-SCHOOL PRODUCT REVIEWS
By Elena Epstein, Director of the National Parenting Product Awards
JOT KIDS LIL’ HELPERS
With an 8.5-inch writing screen, fun colors and a kid-friendly protective cover, this reusable writing tablet is great for games, handwriting practice or drawing. With the push of a button, the Jot Kids instantly clears itself. $29.99, ages 4+, MyBoogieBoard.com
UNLOCK IT! NUMBER MATCH
The corresponding keys and locks give children hands-on practice with number recognition, matching and counting from one to 20—all while building motor skills. $39.99, preschool-1st grade, LakeshoreLearning.com
(RE)ZIP LAY-FLAT LUNCH BAG
Food-safe, leakproof, BPA-free, freezer safe and ideal for packing snacks and lunches for school. Perfectly sandwich-sized, and the double-lock closure provides an airtight seal, preventing spills while assuring food and snacks stay fresh all day. $19.99, Rezip.com
PACKIE DAYCARE | PRESCHOOL BACKPACK
Features an art tube for transporting your child’s art and teacher notes, side water bottle holder, D-ring for hanging toys, waterproof outer coating and an interior zipper compartment. $34, ages 2-5, UrbanInfant.com
CHALK-A-WORD
Get ready to chalk up your vocabulary, spelling and memory skills. An interactive game where players add letters cards to build off of words created by their opponents. It stimulates cognitive function and memory while boosting spelling and vocabulary skills. $25, ages 8+, SimplyFun.com
MINI CLOTHING STAMP
Mark your kids’ names directly onto their clothing with this personalized Mini Clothing Stamp. Great for tagless tees, sweaters, jackets and uniforms. Small enough for on-the-go labeling, and the compact stamp is preloaded with ink that stays put for approximately 40 washes. $31, MabelsLabels.com
A SMART GIRL’S GUIDE: TOUGH STUFF
A book that shows girls how to get through tricky times—from bullying to body image issues, friendship stress to family struggles, and panic attacks to pandemic. $12.99, ages 10+, AmericanGirl.com
TRIANGLE MATH FLASH CARDS
Set comprises 188 addition, subtraction, multiplication and division triangular flashcards for K-6 learners. Get all facts on numbers 0-12 with 752 equations and six bonus facts. $29.99, ages 5-11, ThinkTankScholar.com
WHAT KIND OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL MOM ARE YOU? QUIZ
GUIDE
As the smell of chlorine and sunscreen drift away, replaced by the fragrance of freshly sharpened number two pencils, how is your mama heart feeling? Stereotypes abound on how moms tend to feel on that first day of school, so let’s see whether they hold true with our handy-dandy quiz!
a. Love it! I love the smell of new pencils and new beginnings! And how cute is this first-day outfit? b. Loathe it. So many supplies. So many clothes. So much of my budget. c. Check it off the list. The first day is coming, and we’re ready.
2. Do you have any traditions for the first day of school?
a. Yes! Chalkboard signs, class year t-shirts, donuts for breakfast and ice cream after school! b. Nope, not following in your crazy footsteps, Karen! c. Yes, first-day pictures on the front step and maybe a fun snack after school.
3. How do you handle first-day pictures?
a. My chalkboard sign is ready, their graduation year t-shirts are laid out, and we will take them separately, as a group, at home and at the school! b. It’s hard enough to wake them up earlier than every day this summer, and that’s what school pictures are for in a couple of weeks. c. I’ll snap a couple pictures on our front step, maybe print off a free sign.
4. When do you shop for school supplies?
a. We shop as a family as soon as the lists come out. It’s fun to let them pick out their own folders. b. Typically, the week before we scrounge through to see what is still salvageable from last year and then fill in the gaps as needed. c. We purchase the supply box the school sells. Easy and done!
5. Once the kids are safely at school, what are your plans for the first day of school?
a. I’m a bit tearful and spend the day running errands solo and making homemade cookies for them to come home to and munch on as they tell me all about their first day. b. Finally a break and chance to see MY friends!
Champagne, anyone? c. Another season, another hustle.
a. Excited for new routines and lessons. b. Lying low until the pool officially closes and it’s too cold to go to a park. c. Each of my children can choose one activity per season.
7. How do you feel about the change of seasons?
a. Pumpkin patches, hayrides—bring on the pumpkin spice! b. Finally not sweating, but will be too cold too soon. c. I like the change in weather, the leaves changing and the excuse to get cozy.
8. How do you feel about your kids’ moving up to the next grade or school?
a. My heart aches with how big they are getting and those too-big class t-shirts are starting to actually fit now! b. One year closer to an empty nest! c. I like to see my kids grow older and become interesting and capable people, but I’m surprised at how quickly it goes by.
Mostly A’s: Emotional Mama sucking out every last ounce of summer with her kids because we only get 18 summers to make memories! We completed our bucket list and are making our fall bucket list now! Mostly Bs: Tired Out Mom and ready for the nonstop entertaining and refereeing of my kids to come to an end and get back to the steady routine of the school year. Get them on the bus then pop the champagne with my mom friends to celebrate back to school! Mostly Cs: Regular Mom enjoyed summer with the kids but am ready to launch them into the next school year and see what they learn and how they grow this year.
Stephanie Loux is the proud mom of Layla, 11, Mason, 10 and Slade, 7 and can relate to all the mom feelings in this quiz.
GET A SMART START
TO THE SCHOOL YEAR
It’s back-to-school time here in KC, and with it come opportunities to establish great habits for a fantastic new school year for everyone in your entire family! Here are 10 ways you can prepare for the best school year yet!
Establish Your School Year Sleep Routine Early
Summer’s a great time for late nights and sleeping in. But by resetting to a healthy sleep time/wake time, you start your school days off on the right foot. Don’t wait this one out too long. Small, incremental steps are key. Consider rolling back bedtime 10-15 minutes every few days until you’ve gotten into your ideal school year sleep routine. Likewise, have your children rise earlier in similar increments. Remember: Kids between the ages of 6 and 18 optimally need 10 to 12 hours of sleep. Consider getting blackout curtains to keep summer sunrays shielded during bedtime and shut screens off at least an hour before hitting the hay. By establishing healthy habits before the school year begins, you’ll already be well on your way to a successful academic day.
Be Backpack Savvy
Not all backpacks are created equal. In addition to scouting out the coolest prints, patterns or logos, look for gear that is properly fitted to the child, including wide padded straps, padding on the back and a base that rests at the child’s waistline (avoid backpacks that rest lower). A full bag should not exceed 10-20% of a child’s body weight. Encourage your children to use their backpacks properly, utilizing both straps for even weight distribution instead of slinging the bag over one shoulder.
Hit Back-to-School Sales
Every year it seems retailers begin offering back-to-school sales earlier. Do your homework to find which places serve your needs best. One of the best places to start? Shopping at home. That’s right! Take inventory of all the leftover supplies your child has from previous years before hitting the store. You might be surprised at how much is covered. From there, build a shopping list, budget and do price comparisons between sellers so you aren’t taken by surprise at the store. For added savings, sign up for email alerts, download couponing apps or become a store rewards member.
*Bonus Tip: Not all savings comes in the form of coupons and sales prices. Consider going in on a bulk buy with friends and family for staple items like Kleenex, GermX or office supplies.
Be Prepared for Returns
Kids outgrow clothes before they even wear them. Or you buy one too many boxes of office supplies. Whatever the reason to take an item back, make sure you’re aware of the return policies at the retailers you purchase from, whether there are time restrictions, receipts required or in-store credit vs. cash refunds available. Likewise, remember to keep all original packaging and receipts in order to make returns a piece of cake.
Establish a Command Center at Home
If you have a specific space within your home for important information and gear (think homework, bills, keys, backpacks and shoes), then it will be that much easier to find what you’re looking for when running out the door in a
hurry. Remember, designated areas help everyone establish good organizational habits! Organization systems abound, and Pinterest offers a broad array of “pinspiration” to get your creative juices flowing. You can go big (built-ins, mud room) or small (a magazine rack for incoming papers and a hook for keys). The key is finding something that works for you and your crew long term so that you will have that much less stress on a day-to-day basis.
Have a Heart-to-Heart
Starting school for the first time, going to a new school or simply starting back after a long, lackadaisical summer can trigger anxiety in both children and teens. Keep the pathway of communication open and discuss things if your child has ongoing concerns, fears or unresolved social or academic issues from the previous school year. Take a tour of the school, attend an open house and look for other like-minded families in your community that attend the same school to establish relationships both inside and outside the formal learning setting.
Rock the School Lunch
The sandwich is your most versatile meal on the go. That drab PB&J or ham and cheese can get an instant facelift when wrapped in a pita, tortilla or served bare with an assortment of crackers. Consider a bento-box style lunchbox over a traditional one, as the compartments encourage providing a variety of foods. Limit the amount of boxed items and go for whole foods like fresh berries and yogurt, fresh veggies and hummus or tortilla chips and guacamole. Don’t have a bento? No problem. Use an old Rubbermaid or Glasslock container and place silicone cupcake liners to separate foods.
Make a Countdown Celebration
Young and old alike enjoy the anticipation that comes with timelines— and who doesn’t love an excuse to party?
GUIDE
Fashion a good, old-fashioned paper chain, one loop for each day until the first day of school, and place it in a prominent place within your home. Every day a family member can take off a chain link until there’s nothing left. As the lazy, hazy days of summer come to a close, determine a family celebration day where you fete the end of summer and the advent of school. It can be as simple as going out for ice cream coupled with back-to-school shopping or as elaborate as taking a final summer vacation.
Lauren Greenlee is a boymom of four who loves all things back to school related. She writes from her Olathe home.
KC Parent’s After-School Activities Guide
Studies show that kids engaged in sports, the arts, leadership organizations and more improve their social, creative, academic, organizational and goal-setting skills.
Whether your kids are into baseball, soccer, swimming, basketball, dance, art or STEM, you’re sure to find extracurricular fun in our After-School Activities Guide which covers programs across the Kansas City metro!
CHECK IT OUT TODAY!
