Back to school essentials parents tend to forget about
[Image: Wikimedia]
You’ve already shopped for the basics: pens, pencils, binders and a durable backpack. But there are some things you might be forgetting.
Whether your child is in elementary school, middle school or high school, here are some important things to put on your back to school ‘To Do’ list so you can say goodbye to the feeling of being unprepared and say hello to a great new school year.
1. Vaccinations
[Image: healthycanadians.gc.ca]
Look back on your child’s vaccination records to be sure they’re up-to-date on all their shots. In March, thousands of students in Canada were sent letters by their school threatening suspension due to missed vaccinations. Avoid the trouble and get them done now! For information on the necessary vaccinations for your province, visit healthycanadians.gc.ca.
2. An appointment with your optometrist
[Image: Wikimedia]
An eye exam should be given to kids with prescription glasses annually as vision tends to change. For children with perfect vision, doing it every few years is fine. Get your optometrist to make sure your kid’s glasses are working well and their vision is okay, before they get to school and notice that they can’t see whats on the board,
3. Sunscreen
[Image: Pixabay]
You may not think sunscreen is necessary as we make our way through September and welcome cooler weather. But even though the sun isn’t shining as bright it can still give off harmful UV rays, leaving your child with a nasty sunburn after gym class.
4. Do a time test
[Image: Pexels]
Avoid being late for the first day of school and do a test run. See how long it takes you and the kids to get to school by waking up and completing your normal routine. If it is a new school, time how long it takes you to drive there. This will save a lot of hassle on the first day.
5. Organizational tools
Organization is an important thing to teach your child. It doesn’t only help you stay on top of things- it helps them as well. Keeping the school day tidy and simple will make them feel more confident and productive, as well as helping them prioritize tasks. When picking up school supplies, don’t forget a calendar or agenda to keep track of projects, dividers to separate material, sticky notes to write down ideas, and if they have a locker- a locker shelf to keep their space clean.
6. USBs
Want to take unfinished work from school for homework? A USB will be an indispensable tool in middle and high school. A 4 GB USB is suitable for a student who will be saving word documents and PDFs. As your child gets older, schools will demand that USB’s have more space to keep up with the heavy course load.
Know of any other oft-forgotten back to school tasks? Let us know by tweeting us at @YahooStyleCA.
