I’m two weeks into the new school year. In the spirit of my post yesterday of sharing info w/ other Kindergarten/Elementary parents, I have put together a list of tips and tricks that have been helping me navigate this world. I know many of you do this stuff so it’s more for those heading into the Kindergarten world either this year or in the near future. Would love to hear other’s tips and tricks. 
  1. Get the “5 year shots” at age 4.  My doc told me too late that the shots required for 5 yr olds needs to happen somewhere between 4 and 5. Do it at 4 because they are still not fully aware of what shots are. If you wait, like I  did for Rafael, it will take a nurse, a grandmother, yourself, and a doctor to hold your screaming, kicking, almost cussing kid down.  CD got hers at 4 so her 5 year check up yesterday was a piece of cake.
  2. Also health related- Our dentist pushes the brush their teeth twice a day, and floss at night followed by ACT rinse for kids. The sooner you incorporate this into your life, the easier you life will be. R’s teeth are cramped causing “suspicious areas” that some day will fall to cavities but so far, we have defended it like the walls of Helms Deep. 
  3. Lice: a perpetual nuisance in school. You have to put girls’ hair up and with both sexes, spray it with either Lavender Oil mixed w/ Tea Tree Oil or use Lice Shield (thanks again MissLaurie.) Every. Day. Or like my friend, who is diligent about prevention, slipped one day the kid came home w/ nits.   
  4. Keens are worth the money. Their hard rubber front protects toes, they are indestructible, and they are waterproof.  If you are crafty, you can always find them for around 25.00. They last through two to three kids so if you have boys and girls, just get neutral colors. R and CD shared one pair that then passed to my friend’s daughter, then her son. They are like foot armor. 
  5. If you have girls: Whenever you see short lycra bike shorts on sale at Children’s Place or Target, wherever, buy them. My kids are required to have them under dresses or skirts for school. Stock up. Get the next sizes. You will always need these. This week Target has some for $4.25.
  6. CD is a VERY fancy girl and we have many sundresses that she could be wearing to school, but there is a “two finger” rule for the strap of a dress. I found the above tanks this week on sale at Target. They come 3 to a pack but I found a a pack for each girl with “Bonus Shirt” inside. More for my money. CD throws on under a sundress and now has every dress as an option for school and as hot as it is, I’m thrilled.
  7. Don’t wait for the K teacher to start a full court press for reading. Start them before school starts. It surprising how many parents don’t do this. Trust me, I worked the reading sessions for R’s class last year. Make flash cards for Sight Words, get Bob’s books or Reading Level books from the library. Those 15 minutes minimum a day make for a confident kid. 

Helpin’ ‘em Learn

China Doll has to read 15 minutes a day and has sight words to memorize. I found this book series at the library and she loves it. Thought I would share.

The adult reads the left and the kid reads the right. Most of the right hand side are sight words.  

Also found this handy flash card flip book (with protective plastic cover) at Target. The fun colors sex up what could be a pain in the ass. She actually carries it in her purse to go over on car rides. 

I found it in the Back to School special section of Target in a bin near regular white index cards. 

ReBlog….Shout Out…Gathering of the Parents…whatever you call it I have had many parents write asking who else has kids in Elementary School or Kindergarten.  I thought what if those of us who are parents of soon to be Kindergarteners or Elementary kids could TAG  posts “Elementary” or “Kindergarten” for today or whenever you post something others might find helpful everyone could find each other more easily? Would that kick ass?  What say?? Can we spread this like lice on a school bus? 
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ReBlog….Shout Out…Gathering of the Parents…whatever you call it

I have had many parents write asking who else has kids in Elementary School or Kindergarten. 

I thought what if those of us who are parents of soon to be Kindergarteners or Elementary kids could TAG  posts “Elementary” or “Kindergarten” for today or whenever you post something others might find helpful everyone could find each other more easily? Would that kick ass? 

What say?? Can we spread this like lice on a school bus? 

Mommy Marketing

Rafael started Kindergarten prep today, well, it was a “walk through”, sort of a cocktail party for pre-schoolers. Tomorrow is the real deal. This is her fourth pre-school in four years because we have moved that many times (have I mentioned Hubby actually hinted to wanting to move yet again…?) I never get emotional when Rafael starts school because the Marketing major in me knows that the key to a successful send-off is a well run campaign.

 

For weeks I have been discussing school and interjecting conversation with its benefits. “Do you want more chicken? Hey, I hear at school you will have a field trip to a farm! Wonder if you will see chickens? Dad, do you want more chicken, too?” Simple. Hit the target and escape undetected. We have made three errands to her school over the summer, business-like, matter of fact. “Oh, can you tell your dad we have to run by your school today, just so he knows?” I then hear her tread down the hallway and shout up to her dad in his office, “Hey, Dad, we have to go by my school today.” He, the perfect salesman’s plant, “Oh, I didn’t know. Thanks for telling me.” She feels important, she has things to do, an agenda, she must get going. School isn’t scary, it is her job. Result: she was fully dressed, tote bag in hand, at 8am. I had done something right.

 

The only small worry I have is that she spell her name accurately. I know, she’s only 4 but she is 5 in a few weeks and if it weren’t for the damn birthday cut off, she would be in Kindergarten where I’m pretty sure they start quantum physics. Rafeal is very artistic. I’m not overreaching here, she really is. She spells her name with hearts and loops and different sizes, but for the sake of school, she needs to reel it in a bit and avoid the backwards C and E. So, we have been practicing for the “upper right hand corner”. Rafeal is also a hippie. I am not overreaching here, she really is. During a recent trip to the kids’ museum, where every imaginable costume was at her disposal, she opted for a flowery muumuu.

 (Rafeal as Baretta’s neighbor)

 

She also wears tie-dye because “it’s like wearing a rainbow” and prefers peace signs and question marks which means some day she will protest something, asking “why?” So, when at a garage sale I saw a cross stitch thread friendship kit for only $1, I bought it. The added benefit was that it had letter beads. Marketing brainstorm! Simple: What does the target like? Can my want be combined with target’s desire? Yes.

 

“Now, when you have to spell your name at school, you can look at your bracelet and make sure the letters are all going the right way. No one has to know, just look down.” I’ll be damned if today when she had to write her name in the top right hand corner of the frog page she had to color, a page to be hung in the classroom all year long, I watched as she slowly pushed the letter beads together on her wrist, paused, then began writing her name. Mid-way through she touched a letter and then returned to the page to complete the task. As I stood behind her, far enough away that she had no idea I was watching, it was all I could do not to cry like an Oprah audience member. I had done something right.