I can’t believe it’s time to start thinking back to school already. Really. Do we have to? I guess the answer to that question is a big resounding yes. Time is ticking away and within two weeks I’ll be sending my second little pink person off and handing her over to the education system. To be totally honest this is not something I’m really looking forward to. Middle pink is soft, squishy and loves nothing better than spending her days home with mummy. Totally opposite to her big sister, who took to school fearlessly and has risen to every challenge presented to her without hesitation, middle pink is worried, pensive and not at all excited – not even about her uniform! It’s going to be an interesting term one 2012 for us. But despite her reluctance school is not a negotiable part of life, so we’ve been spending some time getting prepared.
Along with endless discussions about how things will work, and spending time addressing some of her fears, we’ve also been uniform shopping, bought a lovely new lunch box and started the labelling process. Lucky for me I was approached by the clever people at Bright Stars Kids late last year and had their lovely School Label Value Kit sent out for review. And thankfully it’s a pearler. Simple to order, fast to deliver and seems to work a treat. The only two school related smiles I’ve seen from middle pink happened when she saw her new lunch box and the pretty pink butterfly label on her drink bottle. Check out the Bright Stars website for more information on school labels, iron on clothing labels, wall art and some other clever things! Like to win a School Label Value Kit? Head on down to the bottom of this post to enter.
While we’re talking back to school another good quality product I’ve found is the Boxy Designs. If you’re looking around for wrapper free lunch-box and a clever ergonomic backpack suitable for little people – this one is great. It’s environmentally friendly, durable and very clever. I first looked into them when I was searching for a durable wrapper-free lunch box for big pink. I’d purchased several of the leading supermarket brand and they had only lasted six months each before the lids started to break off the individual boxes. I want need better value than that!
Boxy Designs have a very clever concept. The lunch box slides into the bottom of the backpack through its own zipper door and fits the icepack neatly on top. It still leaves lots of room for all those other important things your kids need to take to school (like Barbie dolls, books and Zhu Zhu pets!). You can buy the lunch boxes individually for $19.95 or for $78.00 you can buy the backpack, lunch box, drink bottle, and freezer pack. If you are looking for good quality I say give them a go. The lunch box has that confidence inspiring quality feeling like it might last out the entire year and beyond! As a special for The Truth About Mummy readers Boxy Designs are offer a 30% discount until the 31st of January 2012. Just use the check out code discount code TTAM55. Now that’s a nice back to school savings.
The lovely people from Bright Stars Kids have given The Truth About Mummy a School Label Value Kit to giveaway. If you’d like a chance to win please follow the steps below:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me the best piece of advice for getting the kids back to school (or kinder or childcare).
- Tweet or share this giveaway on facebook (just write ‘Tweet’ or ‘FB’ at the end of your comment and use the share button at the end of this post.)
- To keep you in touch with giveaways and news from The Truth About Mummy please subscribe to our email, facebook or RSS feed (over in the right hand sidebar). You don’t have to do this to enter but doing so, and sharing this post on facebook, will help us to continue to attract great giveaways for you to win.
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T&C
This giveaway is open to all Australian residents from 20th January 2012 to the 27th of January 2012. The winner/s will be judged on the creativity/strength of their answers. The total prize pool is approximately $39. The winner/s will be contacted via email and asked for an address for their prize to be sent to. Prize winners can also been found on the giveaway winners tab. If the winners do not respond within 7 days of the giveaway being drawn it will be re-drawn from the same pool of entrants. Entries will remain the property of The Truth About Mummy and may be republished on this site. disclaimer: I received Bright Stars and Boxy Design Products in order to complete this review and did not receive any form of payment. All opinions expressed are completely my own. Thanks~you for reading and good-luck.
Caz
53 Responses to BACK TO SCHOOL: Labels & Lunch boxes + a giveaway (closes 27.01.12)
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My son is getting excited and nervous about his first day. as it is my first one going to school I have been telling my son, by the time your sister goes to school, you’ll be the big boy and be able to show her around. also starting school you are going to meet new friends and learn lots of new things. I hope he is not too nervous on the day!
Thanks Caz
Get the books early and get them covered and ready so that the kids start to get excited about their new books.
Preparation, familiarity and routine!!! I like to put my kids into routine before school starts so they know what to expect and are not surprised the day of school. Practise those early morning rushes. We talk about how it will be, what to look forward to, how I will say goodbye and greet them at the end of the day. We talk about what they want for lunch and snack….and most importantly, that I will just be at home. I have found my kids feel insecure if they know I have to go to the shops or leave the house etc they like to know that I am at home…waiting for them having a cuppa (which i must do all day long!! haha) shared on FB
Sit down with your children and get them to help decide what their lunches with be when they get back to school. It helps get them involved and excited
i have learnt not to leave things to the last minute eg: uniforms, books, lunch items, it makes it all go smoother and while your getting things ready the kiddies get excited when they see new things. Also organise a play date a few days before school starts so they have that comfort of a friend when they return.x
shared fb
Preparation. Of which sadly, we’ve had none this year, so I’m nervous for my poor little men. Both of them starting new schools and kindy next week!
Have FBed.
Melissa recently posted..Discombobulated
This week we’ve re-established bed time is 7.30.
During the holidays we’ve been busy so we’ve had a few sneaky day sleeps, and some nights gone to bed very late.
p.s. Shared on facebook
Its our first year at Kinder,
So we’re not sure what to do,
But in the past with daycare,
I’ve found these few things true,
Smile and laugh, and meet their teachers
And when at home be the school’s best preacher
Then come the day they flit away
As little birdies do,
It’ll be exciting and happy –
If not chocolate’ll get you through!!
& shared on face book too
Walking in the holidays
We stroll up past the school
Talk about the first day there
And how it will be really cool!
We listen to the questions
Of our little 5 year miss
And when the big day does arrive
We say goodbye with a kiss!
I have my eldest daughter starting Kindergarten this year (she is really ready and very excited). So as a first time mum sending her off to school, I have made sure she experiences the enjoyment of getting organised and picking her school supplies, etc. It has been nice to spend that time with her and help her prepare for her first day!
I think I need some advice from parents who have already experienced the first day of sending their first off to school (I think I will have tears!!!)
Have shared on fb!
My best tip, it worked wonders for me, is to be involved with your childs school. Canteen volunteering, mothers group, helping on a second hand uniform stall ect.. When a child first starts school it was nice for them to know they didnt have to wait all day to see me, I would pop up every now and then with the activities I was involved in ♥
Have tweeted and shared this great giveaway on facebook ♥
We just like to be organised uniform ready shoes at the front door, bag packed etc
Tweet @kazedwards23
This prize would be great thanks for my brothers family all at school age.
Children are encouraged to go back to school when buying the items on their ‘school book list’ – new year, new gear!
ps – tweeted giveaway
We all know our own children and what makes them tick. Prepare them in a way that is relatively familiar to what they are used to. I have a daughter at school already but my little man starts this year. We made sure we attended all orientation days so he was familiar with his room and teacher and playground and other children in the class. We had a special day in which we bought school shoes, so he felt special. Good Luck to all children and mums who have a child starting school or kinder this year:)
Add any extras needed (stationary, snacks etc) to the shopping list the week before. Saves running around 5 minutes before the store closes the night before.
Tweeted
Get them involved in buying their new items for school, bag, lunch box, stationary etc.
Best bit of advice is, the week before, get them back into a bed routine, asleep at a reasonable hour so they get prepared for having to get up early every morning.
“Tweet”
“FB”
With 3 in school I get them involved in baking and freezing cakes and slices for lunches. I also start their bed time routine a week before school starts back and we spend a week taking our time to label all clothing, bags, drink bottles etc
I would love to win this prize and keep them for my grandchildren who are expected in the next 8 weeks, a boy and a girl, or give the to a friend who has 3 children, 3, 2 and 1. Of course get your children to help to choose their lunches and treats, make sure they get plenty of sleep and remember to make it exciting, bright colours etc.
Take a photo of what they need to wear each day fully kitted out (obviously most days will be the same) but include the items they need – library bag, news item (holding NEWS on a page) , sport day – etc.
Easy for your kinder/preppies to dress themselves and be a little independently organised – Print as A4 size in grid with daily routine too.
Laminate it or place inside a plastic coversheet – mark each day off with whiteboard marker !
Trish recently posted..Zookeeper ~ at not your average Zoo { Giveaway }
Hey Trish, letting you know your awesome back to school photo idea is the winner of my back to school Bright Stars Kids giveaway. Can you email me some contact details so Bright Stars can send you your prize? thetruthaboutmummy@gmail.com Thanks for the fabulous idea
Arrange a specific area for items required on various days, eg library book, art, sports gear, homework area and encourage kids to use it until it becomes 2nd nature!
Have posted on FB & tweeted!
Thanks!
Make sure that your organised so that they dont feel rushed and under pressure
I always leave a funny note in their lunchboxes for the first day and tell them not to look till they get to school, that makes them excited to get there! Shared on FB.
Be prepared. Have bags packed, uniforms ready and food made for the first week so there are less frantic mornings to deal with, until routine kicks in. Be prepared to cry, especially on first days. Both you, and your little one – and know that it will be ok.
Shared on FB.
Make things easy for them – for example if they haven’t learnt how to tie up shoe laces yet let them wear the shoes with the velcro strips – last year when my son was in Prep I noticed a couple of the kids in his class with their laces undone nearly every afternoon!
Have shared on facebook!
My Best back to school tip HAS to be plan ahead. We start school in a week so in my calendar from mid January has had one small task a day to prepare them for school. Ie. First one was inventory clothes and write list of whats required so when the sales start we are ready. Another to bake a cake, slice and freeze ready. To check everything is LABELLED so it comes home again! LOL. All we have left now with a week left is to finish filling the freezer with snacks and we are good to go! Ive much prefered this than to rush like mad for a week solid and forget something
Also note down whats worked organisation wise this year (in a word doc on the computer is fine) and then next year refer to it just after xmas and see what to do to make it easier
Oh and i shared on FB
Stack the freezer up with plenty of home-made snacks and treats so packing lunches is a breeze. Saves plenty of time and agony! Also an added bonus, the kids can choose what they would like to take for lunch! Everyone wins.
Have shared on FB!
Let the kids help choose a new school bag, lunch box etc and let them help get everything prepared for the new year, like putting names on bags, clothing etc. This will help them to feel more excited about starting the new year with stuff that they actually like.
1. Be organised! Have everything ready as soon as possible. Make a list of everything you need to do and get. Get your priorities right.
2. Get excited!! Decorate your books with stickers, pictures, even glitter! Get unique things; things that no one else would have like a cool pencil case.
3. Name EVERYTHING! Pencils, pens, pencil cases, rubbers, books etc. Yes…EVERYTHING!
4. Do you know anyone else who’s going to be in your class? Talk to them! Become friends so you have someone to be with. Talk about how you’re getting ready and ask them if THEY have any tips.
5. Be positive and determined! Be determined to be the best! work hard and achieve your goals for the school year. You also need to be happy and cheerful about it. New opportuinities, new friends; new things in general.
Hope this helps people!!
I do feel your pain. My big boy starts soon, and he’s soft and squishy too. What a beautiful way to describe it. And so aptly put. What will we do with our sensitive children. Our heart breaks at the thought of a bad thing to ever happen to them!
All the best as you start your school year. We’re almost ready! xx
Kymmie @ a day in the life of us recently posted..you can never get enough of what you don’t need to make you happy
Organised is the key to it all
I have everything done the night before
We have a weekly lunchbox roster to know she will take each day
If they dont want to go , remind them their friends are waiting to play
There will be good and bad days throughout the year
And on the first day mummy always shed a tear.
But thats ok
Shared on FB
I think the best way to be organized is by getting everything in the first week I receive the kids book lists, I have then the opportunity to gradually get everything labelled over the break, and enjoy the precious moments of school holidays and time with my 4 children!
Shared on Facebook
I would recommend taking your little one to the school before they start, even if no one is there you can go and play at the school playground and have a walk around. This gives your child a tangible element to focus on and eleviates the anxity of the unknown. I would also explain to them that there teacher is there to help them with any issues that they may have (e.g where do they put there hat, etc…You could also make up a scrap book page of all the things your child holds dear to look at if they feel sad or are missing you, put it in there bag and tell them where it is (some classes even have a special place for these). the most important thing is to tell them that you are very proud of them and that you love them very much and you can’t wait to come and pick them up at the end of the day!
FB
Organization, and the ability to switch off when things don’t always go to plan otherwise you whole day is ruined sometimes if the slightest thing sets you off.
Getting the kids ready for going back to kinder/preschool involves the whole family. I find if we prepare the lunches and get their clothes ready the night before, and ensure the kids are in bed on time for ample sleep, it makes things run much more smoothly on the day. Routine is key. My two are always excited about going back to kindy/preschool so they can see their friends. Often I’ll make an extra special treat as a surprise for them to enjoy in their lunchbox on their first day back.
Have tweeted about this giveaway at:
https://twitter.com/#!/C_Ewers/status/162367982914387968
Involve them in buying all the supplies and I’ve been chatting to my daughter about school so she is aware and prepared for her 1st day.
- Be positive and create excitement around starting kindergarten by talking with your children.
- Step up a daily routine routine to practice…
* Packing for the first day of kindergarten
* Preparing a lunchbox and drink bottle
* Organising a bag
* Carrying a school bag
* Dressing
* Going to the toilet
tweeted about the giveaway…
ENJOY yourself! School is brilliant when you have the right frame of mind.
I try to get everything ready at least a month before school starts then there are no tears (usually from Mum) when they are ready to go back. Plus I’ve found if you leave it till the last minute, you won’t get everything that you need as they sell out a week before school goes back usually.
Have lunches and bags packed the night before so there’s no mad rush in the morning.
FB
get all there school stuff organised few weeks before that way they get excited with the anticipation of using there new stuff