How To Create a Homework Station

For many, today is the first day back to school.  I see the moms doing the happy dance as the kids drag themselves to the school bus.  I don’t know about you but finding a good spot to do homework was always an issue at our house.  I wanted the “perfect setting” – desk with no noise while Belinda liked to do it sitting on the bed or couch with the TV or music on.  Homework can be a stressful affair for both kids AND parents.  But while homework is a fact of life, the daily chaos which  results doesn’t have to be.

Want to make your family’s after-school routine a little less stressful? A dedicated homework station is a must!

Homework stations keep supplies on hand and distractions to a minimum, providing kids with a quiet, supervised, place to study. When your kids are older and the workload becomes heavier, a centrally located workspace can help reduce feelings of isolation, allowing them to spend time with the family as they work. A shared workspace can also go a long way toward keeping your teen safe as they begin to spend more and more time on the computer.

I know you may think you don’t have the space for this, right?  The truth is you can create an attractive and well-organized study zone for your family. Have a large living room? Consider dedicating a wall to a row of mini workstations. Tight on space? Why not convert an upstairs landing or hallway into a homework zone? You’ll be surprised what you can pull together when you think outside of the box!  Here are some great ideas

The first thing is to find a room or space in your home which works for your child.  Depending how much assistance they will need, this could be in the kitchen or family room or at a desk in their own room.  The ultimate goal is to get them working in a proper set‐up with a table and chair instead of working from their lap – this way they establish good habits, can properly work on their handwriting and have room to spread out all their materials.

1) CLIPBOARDS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND

Clipboards are a good way to display important papers your kids may bring home from school, and can help stay on top of due dates and deadlines. A quick glance at the clipboard and you immediately know there is SOMETHING they need to work on – even if it’s a spelling list or a book report which isn’t due for a few weeks. These can be picked up at the Dollar Store or Target or Walmart.  Wherever you get them, definitely jump on-board the clipboard bandwagon!

2) INCLUDE A CALENDAR

Calendars are ULTRA important. It’s a great idea to hang one in your homework station to keep track of homework projects, upcoming tests, homework assignments, and all other important dates.  There are a lot of different types of calendars you could use.  But a simple paper one you can easily hang is tops on my list.  Like the clipboards, you can get these practically anywhere (even for free).  As much as I love a great dry-erase board, you don’t have to worry about anything you write down accidentally being erased.  Which is always a huge plus!

3) MAKE SPACE FOR BACKPACKS

Do your kids walk through the door after school, take their backpacks off and throw them on the ground. So fun, right? *Rolls eyes*. To avoid breaking an ankle and unnecessary messes, designate a space for backpacks! Cubbies  are ideal but if you are limited on space have them hang their backpacks on the back of their designated chair at the homework station.  This way things can be added to the backpack as they are done and nothing is forgotten at home.

4) STORE IMPORTANT PAPERS

Loosing important school papers is the absolute worst! Some basic hanging wall baskets or hanging wall file organizers are really helpful. Just designate one basket per child (or person in your family) and keep anything important pertaining to that person in it.  Or, you could divide your wall file organizer by designating the bottom space for homework that needs to be done, the middle for homework to be checked/signed off by you, and the top for school forms/fliers.

5) ORGANIZE YOUR SUPPLIES

Ever have one of those homework moments when you couldn’t find a pencil or calculator for the life of you? Yeah. Not so fun. I recommend keeping common homework and art supplies within arm’s reach of your homework station so there is NO excuse for them to not do their math!

Here are some simple DIY homework organization ideas:

• Cutlery Caddy –You can get these inexpensively at pretty much any big-box store, or even your local dollar store. Then assign each compartment in the caddy for a specific homework supply like crayons, scissors, glue, pencils, etc. Note: Usually the caddies from the dollar store only have two compartments.  So one thing you could do is also purchase six plastic drinking cups from the dollar store, put three on eachside of the caddy and then place your various homework supplies in the cups. This plate rack caddy is also a great way to organize school supplies.  Simply buy some buckets, cans, mason jars, or whatever to store each of your supplies in and you’re good to go!

 

• Door Organizer –This could be something like an over the door shoe holding organizer you can get at Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, or anywhere else selling home organizing products.  Just make sure to get a clear one so the kids can easily see what supplies are in what storage pocket.

 

• Art Cart – Find rolling utility carts at most big craft stores and home stores (even Amazon has some!).  From there you can begin to fill your art cart with not only supplies like crayons and pencils but also notebooks, counting aids, flash cards, books, and so much more!

What is YOUR best tip for setting up a homework station?  Share your back to school pictures with us…..

Have a blessed day!

 

Thankful Thursday: 31 Mom Hacks

Are you ready for some tips, tricks and secrets veteran moms have sworn by for years?

Just a few household items, some creativity, and you can make those long summer parenting days just a little easier while keeping the kids happy, too!

Did you know according to a NEW Groupon survey, most parents are ready to send their kids BACK to school after 13 days of summer vacation?  Are you one of those parents?  I would have to disagree with this survey.  When Belinda was growing up, I loved summers.  It was a nice break from the craziness of school, sports, competitions and more.  When she was younger, she spend mid-week in Ocean Grove with family and weekends at home.  Once she got hooked on gymnastics – life changed but summers were fun.

These hacks may not change your life, but they might save your sanity – and give you more time for the things which really matter.

1. Save time in the morning by putting your children to bed in their school clothes. (Boy moms, especially, swear by this one!)  Would you do this?
2. Recycle used coffee creamer containers or use our Hide & Peek Pouch for on-the-go snacks. They fit perfectly in diaper bag bottle pockets and car cup holders.
3. Place two layers of fitted sheets and waterproof mattress pads over your little ones’ beds for easier cleanup of overnight accidents.  Genius!
4. Keep a portable, Cinch Sac or a Picnic Thermal Tote in your car for wet or soiled baby clothes.
5. Did you know the shoulder tabs on infant bodysuits are meant to help you pull a soiled outfit down instead of up over the baby’s head? Who would know this? LOL!
6. Save trips from the car to the house by keeping a Deluxe Utility Tote in your trunk for all of your shopping bags.
7. Use a makeup brush to apply diaper rash cream to help keep your hands clean.
8. Poke your ice pop’s stick through a cupcake liner to catch drippy messes and keep hands and clothes clean.
9. Cupcake liners are also an easy way to protect kids’ drinks from bugs during picnics. Just put one over a plastic cup and pop a straw through the top.
10. Make more room in your diaper bag by keeping an Essential Storage Tote, packed with an extra blanket, toys and a change of clothes, in the car.
11. Lay painter’s tape over your door locks to prevent toddlers from locking themselves in their room.
12. A pool noodle under the fitted sheet makes a great impromptu bedrail.
13. You can also cut a pool noodle in half lengthwise and wrap it around a door to prevent slammed fingers.
14. Line a collapsible Stand Tall Bin with a garbage bag to create an on-the-go trash can for camping trips.
15. Use a hanging shoe storage bag to organize blocks and other small toys.
16. Keep a sliced apple from browning before lunch by wrapping it in plastic wrap.
17. Detangle doll hair with a little dish soap and conditioner. OMG!  I wish I knew this before….
18. Use a pizza cutter to slice pancakes and waffles into bite-sized pieces for little fingers.
19. Make any footed PJs slip-proof with a little puffy paint on the soles of the feet.
20. Sunshine can be a surprisingly effective baby stain remover. Just leave the item of clothing outside to dry and watch the stain fade in just a few hours.

 

21. Fill a Double Duty Caddy with art supplies so it’s ready to go on rainy days.
22. You can machine wash your kids’ plastic building blocks and other toys in a mesh delicates bag. (Just don’t put them in the dryer!)
23. Hang bibs on the back of a highchair using removable hooks.
24. Free up space in your child’s lunch bag by using a frozen juice box as an ice pack.  Did you know lunch thermals were on sale this month????
25. In a pinch, you can quickly childproof cabinets with hair ties.
26. Store ice pops vertically in the freezer to make them easier to cut open.
27. An empty blow-up kiddie pool makes an impromptu play pen indoors or outdoors.
28. Pack kids’ outfits – tops, pants, socks and accessories – in individual bags or Zipper Pouches for easier travel.
29. Give each child his or her own Large Utility Tote to carry their laundry to the washer and back from the dryer.
30. Freeze homemade baby food in an ice cube tray for perfect portion sizes.
31. Create a giant dry erase mat with a dollar-store shower curtain.

What are some of YOUR favorite mom hacks? Share them with us….

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Tasty Tuesday: Healthy Lunch Box Ideas

I know it is WAY too early to think about “healthy school lunches”, right?  BUT these are also some great ideas to use for trips to the beach or the park or even those outdoor activities this summer.

I never thought of Belinda as a fussy eater, she just knew what she wanted and it was one battle I did not want to fight.  So for lunch was usually carrots and dip or peanut butter and no jelly.  She wanted nothing to do with anything “green” but she did like “finger foods” for lunch so baby carrots were always good.

I’m sure some of you have a problem getting your kids to eat healthy.  Although I think it is a little easier these days.  Thanks to Thirty One for these yummy ideas!  We’ve searched far and wide to bring you the most delicious snacks you can easily swap out to boost your kids’ nutrition. (And they’re all perfect to pack in our colorful and hard-working insulated lunch bags!)

Swap out PB&J for a PB&B

We all remember pulling a pale, squashed PBJ out of our lunch bags as kids… with that dark purple splotch of jelly seeping through the soggy white bread. (Bleh.)  I loved it BUT Belinda didn’t do jelly.  Why not give your kids a healthy sammie worth celebrating? A peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole wheat or put it in a wrap.  It is packed with 17 g of protein, 7 g of fiber, complex carbs and healthy unsaturated fats. This combo can help kids feel full and energized throughout the afternoon.  Slicing up half a medium banana instead of spreading on two tablespoons of jam adds potassium and cuts out 10 g of sugar! You can even layer in sliced strawberries for a touch of sweetness and a big dose of vitamin C.

Swap out juice boxes for a reusable water bottle

Single-serving drink boxes are convenient and fun, but many also contain artificial color, flavoring and preservatives. Even 100% fruit juices can contain up to 20 g of sugar per pouch!  Instead, try infusing a pitcher of water with citrus slices, torn fresh herbs or muddled berries at home. Combine together herbs and fruits (like strawberry-basil or blueberry-mint) for a refreshing change of pace. Leave your pitcher to infuse overnight in the fridge and pour into a leak-proof water bottle.

Our roomy new Lunch Buddy Thermals feature an elastic-topped mesh side pocket that’s perfect for toting the kids’ water bottles to school and back each day. (And the fun prints are irresistible!)

Swap out applesauce for apple slices

Packing a large, sliced apple instead of a cup of applesauce can double your kids’ fiber intake (5.4 g vs 2.7 g), boost their vitamin C (10.3 mg vs 2.7 mg) and provide them with the beneficial antioxidants contained in the skin of the apple.  Kids love to eat raw apples plain as a healthful snack, or dip slices in a delicious nut or seed butter for added protein and a salty kick. If you want to keep the convenience factor, toss in a whole apple or nab a segmented slicer tool to make quick work of lunch prep.  If you do decide to sometimes opt for applesauce, look for healthier varieties made without added sugar or artificial preservatives. Or make your own unsweetened applesauce, and be sure to leave the skins on!

Swap out chips for nearly anything else

Do your kids crave something salty to go with their meals? (Us too!) Steer clear of the fat, sodium and calorie bombs that are potato chips, which have been scientifically linked to weight gain, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.   Instead, why not offer your kids one of these tasty (and nutritious) treats?

• Roasted pumpkin seeds
• Deli turkey-wrapped cucumber slices
• Nuts (Be sure to check your school’s allergen policy first)
• Edamame, boiled or shelled and roasted
• Air-popped popcorn (It’s a whole grain!)
• Cheese cubes
• Whole wheat pretzels
• Celery sticks with nut or seed butter and raisins, or with cream cheese and dried cranberries
• Swap out pudding cups for Greek yogurt
• Kids love spooning up creamy treats at lunchtime. But when you’re packing their lunch bags, think Greek: While the calorie count and amount of calcium are essentially the same, a serving of Greek yogurt can provide as much as 20 times the protein of an individual pudding cup.

Stick to plain Greek yogurt for the least sugar, and add sliced berries or a little honey for sweetness. If the kids want the flavored kind, choose one with sugar near the end of the ingredient list: The first three ingredients should be milk, live and active cultures and fruit.

Keep their yogurt – and the rest of their healthy food swap-outs – cool until lunchtime in a classic Thermal Tote personalized with your child’s name and favorite embroidered Icon-It design. Your kids will be eating healthy and noshing in style!

 

What is your kids’ favorite lunch?  Share it with us…. Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!