By Toronto4Kids.com
  

It’s unanimous; most parents will be organized for back to school this year! They will send kids to bed early and help them establish good sleeping habits. They’ll start the routine a few days before BTS, so kids are back on track; they’ll shop early for supplies, and they will label everything, including their kids. Bags will be packed at night; breakfast will also be planned the night before.

But, here are a few more helpful tips to make back to school a bit easier - submitted by our viewers. We thought we’d share the best ones…

~Get an agenda and have your kids record everything in it such as tests, assignments, and homework. Have your kids make lists in it and check things off as they go along. Staying organised reduces everyone’s stress! Mandy of Toronto

~We’ve designated a study area in our home for all the kids to do their homework. There are school supplies, dictionaries and everything they need to get their homework done. Assignments never get left behind or lost! Isabelle of Oshawa

~We keep a master calendar of all school activities, assignments, tests and projects on our fridge. Our kids must log everything that has a due date on this calendar. It’s a great way to keep everyone organized. After-school activities are also recorded so everyone knows where everyone is at all times! Lucy of North York

~Every evening, we prepare for the next school day by laying out clothes, preparing lunch boxes, and packing bags by the door. Otherwise, we would never survive! It also helps the kids understand their routine. At first, we wrote out a checklist - now they know exactly what they need to prepare for the next school day and we never have to scramble in the mornings. Jana of Markham

~Clean those backpacks every weekend! It’s amazing what accumulates in there. Have kids organize notes and loose sheets and put them where they belong. Sue of Newmarket

~In our laundry room, we’ve created what we call a School Zone. Everything that has to do with school goes there! Shoes, backpacks, musical instruments, sports equipment, coats, etc. That way, things that go to school each day don’t get misplaced in the house. If the kids are running out the door and they are missing something, that’s where they go to find it! Nancy of Richmond Hill

~I like to make a fresh lunch for my kids in the morning. To get a head start, I will pack staple items the night before such cookies, treats, juice boxes. Wash fruit and veggies the night before. The only thing I have to add in the morning is their main lunch item such as a sandwich or hearty salad. Leanne of Scarborough

~When we do our back to school shopping, we buy a few of each item on sale. Throughout the year as children lose them, you always have extras on hand. Lucinda of Scarborough

~My daughter is always very stressed about going back to school so the first day, I give her a small gift (a family photo with a small piece of candy) which she gets to open on the school bus. Everyday, I put a love note in her lunch box. It keeps her smiling all day. Julie of Toronto

~We wait until the school years starts to buy their wardrobe. Then they have time to decide what is in style and what they want. Catherine of Cambridge

~Label, label, label … that is if you want your children’s items to return home from School. Dorothy of Brockville

~Buy one or two new back-to-school outfits for your child and then wait until the end of the month for the fall sales to buy the rest… That way you save money and your child will know what the “must-have” items for this year are.
Kim of St. Catharines

~Arrange a playdate with another child before school starts. That way your child has a familiar face to see when she/he arrives on the first day. Joanne of Brampton

~Get the kids excited: Start a countdown to school calendar for the weeks leading up to school filled with events like (back to school shopping day and a fun back to school party). Andrea of Markham

~Sneak little “happy, love” notes in your child’s lunch to give them courage and know you love them and wish them a great day! Angela of Scarborough

~I have everything my child needs for the morning within easy reach, from his outfit he will wear, his breakfast place setting, cereal, banana, milk in fridge within easy reach and his coat/boots. This way he can independently get ready and it saves us time in the morning. Rhonda of Thornhill

~Tell the kids that back to school just means that Christmas is getting closer! Leanne of London

Happy Back to School! For more back to School Tips, visit http://www.toronto4kids.com/backtoschool.

This morning our 6-year-old asked us how many days he had left in grade two. Grade two starts on Tuesday. He was asking so he could start counting down the days until next year’s summer vacation.

In just one day our perfect summer will come to a crashing halt as Logan returns to school. With me on mat leave for the next seven months, hubby working from home, and baby not going anywhere (although he is just about crawling) we have started to get used to having full days of family fun. Summer vacation is particularly special in our house since the full days of having Logan at home partially offset the days that he is at his other house.

Back-to-school at TWO houses can be a challenge. Routine in and of itself is the first obstacle. It’s hard enough to stick to a routine when you have two sets of parents calling the shots. But then trying to get back into a school routine after the summer definitely has its fair share of challenges.

We’ve kept up with reading, writing and math all summer, so that likely helped get his brain ready for the classroom. We did, however, allow him to stay up a little later during the summer. So for the past few days we’ve been getting him to bed at his regular bedtime in hopes that Tuesday morning’s alarm (a.k.a. dad) won’t be such a rude awakening.

We also ask the teachers to provide two copies of all communications so that both families are kept in the know. For the first few weeks we’re bombarded with notes and letters from school, and until the teachers get into the routine, communication with the other house is key so that no important instructions or permission forms get overlooked. Logan’s teacher last year was amazing. Despite an already hectic class due to a split grade one and two, she knew our convoluted schedule down pat and tailored the communications accordingly. Hopefully we’re as fortunate this year.

He is pretty lucky though in that he always has a slew of supporters to send him off. With two families there is never a lack of love and attention that’s for sure.

Other than that it’s pretty much business as usual for back-to-school - new clothes, supplies, a fresh haircut, and the dreaded whining about not wanting summer to be over, which I’m sure he’ll forget about once he sees all his classmates again.

This leads me to our quote of the day which is from our son.

Dad: “The plural form of fox is foxes. What is the plural form of ox?”

Logan: “Oxygen.”

This might be a telltale sign that it’s time for back-to-school.

The first day of school is rapidly approaching and my 7 year daughter is totally freaking out about it!  She is the type who always needs a little extra reassurance so last  school year I wrote a note to her everyday and placed it in her lunch box. It was just a little sticky note that said “I love you” but it really meant a lot to her. This year I wanted to make my messages  a little more creative. That’s why I was so happy when I heard  about Lunch Box Love!

Lunchbox Love by Say Please are wonderful little cards with positive messages and fun bits of  trivia written on them. You place them in your child’s lunchbox or binder to give them a little encouragement while they are at school. I was lucky enough to receive a pack of cards to try and I just love them to pieces! Some of the cards say things like “I love spending time with you.” and “Thanks for being a great kid!” and on the back read “Did you know that it is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open?” Each card is double sided with positive words of encouragement on one side and a fun fact on the other. I can’t wait to pack my daughter’s lunchbox for the first day of school and choose a card that is just perfect for her first day back! I know she will feel so special when she reads her Lunchbox Love note!!

Lunchbox Love is PTPA Approved and  currently has 16 different volumes of cards to choose from as well as cards designed for teens and tweens. Right now if you use the code  LBLCMP    you can save 10% on your purchase of Lunchbox Love notes at SayPlease.com! They are also offering free shipping when you buy 4 volumes of Lunch Box Love, but hurry because I’m not sure how long the free shipping offer will last! You can also find Lunchbox Love on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more updates and special offers!

Back to School time is notoriously stressful and hectic, as well as being incredibly emotional for both parents and kids.  Although I don’t have a school aged child (yet!), I am the best aunt ever and love taking my nieces and nephews school shopping.  This year, however, I am doing a lot of my school shopping online thanks to PTPA’s list of back to school items.   

First thing on my list of things every kid needs is their own personalized labels from Mabel’s Labels.  This is especially true for kids that attend daycare, preschool, sports clubs, or even play groups and have a tendency to walk off without all their belongings when they leave (I’m talking to you, dear nephew).  While the focus here is Back to School, it should be noted that Mabel’s Labels are also incredibly useful for kids who are nowhere near school age, but who also frequently take little items out of the house with them and often lose them while they are out.  

Really, personalized labels are a must-have item for kids of all ages, and something I really believe should be required for young children and at least suggested for older kids.  I know I’m not the only parent out there who wholeheartedly agrees, which is why Mabel’s Labels is often raved about online and has even won that coveted PTPA Seal of Approval. 

So, first on my Back to School list is a pack of LOL Labels which are adorable and eye catching as well as completely versatile for baby all the way to adults.  They are perfect for the child who has a schedule of playdates to go to or for kids who are attending daycare or summer camp, or even just for the kids who are constantly battling over which cup is theirs at dinnertime, the LOL labels by Mabel’s Labels ensures all your children’s belongings make it home safely and end up with the right kid at the end of the night.

To shop, you ca head to: http://www.mabel.ca/

The PTPA Award Winning Pampers with Dry Max has undergone scrutiny in recent months, with several parents putting forward concerns about the new material and it’s potential link to skin rashes. GREAT NEWS - CPSC Finds No Cause Linking Pampers Dry Max to Diaper Rash; Health Canada Doesn’t Find “Any Cause for Concern”.

CINCINNATI (September 2, 2010)

To help, we are sponsoring the distribution of comprehensive educational materials produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that provide detailed information on the care and treatment of infant skin conditions, including diaper rash. These AAP materials are now available as free brochures and in the summer issue of AAP Healthy Children Magazine through many pediatrician offices, online at www.healthychildren.org, and at pampers.com.

We promise that we will always put babies’ health and safety first and we encourage any parent or child caregiver with questions to reach out to us at 800/PAMPERS.”

But cellulite.

If there is one part of postpartum that makes me feel as unattractive as possible, it’s the cellulite. I got it the first time around, I got rid of it, and now it’s back.

Mostly, if I avoid looking at my own ass in the bathroom mirror before I step into the shower, I don’t think about it.

Except… the yoga pants I wear every day for work are not looking so hot. I swear, if the light hits right from above you can see the dimples on my ass through the pants.

Got cellulite?

The oh-so-familiar "cellulite squeeze"

Cellulite is just fat. More specifically (in case you actually don’t have any cellulite… humph….) cellulite is the term we use to describe the dimpled pockets of fat on the thighs, upper arms, butt and abdomen. “Orange peel” and “cottage cheese” are a couple of terms you might have uttered before while squeezing that patch on your inner thigh. While your hubby might have the odd bit, mostly cellulite – like menstruation, childbirth and bikini shopping – is a woman’s problem.

Here’s the bad news:

• Cellulite is believed to be largely genetic – a woman can be overweight and have very little cellulite while another, leaner woman might have particularly stubborn patches of it. Thank your mom.
• Cellulite cannot be “cured” with any lotion, potion or procedure. Not a single method or product has solid scientific evidence behind it. Results are minimal, temporary and not worth the money.

Here’s the good news:

• Cellulite – like all fat - can be dramatically reduced with regular exercise to lower body fat and strength training to tone the underlying muscle
• Cellulite’s appearance can be reduced with a healthy diet, lots of water (in you, not on you) and limited consumption of alcohol and caffeine.

My recommendation: move your butt, watch your diet and avoid bad lighting.  But isn’t that the answer to most of life’s mysteries?

Where’s your cellulite?  Have you ever tried any magic potions to “cure” it?

The Boob Nursing Singlet is a black tank top with a clever double layer fabric design over the bust, allowing for discreet and comfortable nursing. The opening is simply pushed aside with one hand, leaving the other one free to hold your baby. Made from organic cotton, this garment is good for you and for your baby.

With the double layer fabric, you don’t end up exposing your waist while nursing, plus the top layer over the bust discreetly covers up any boobage that might otherwise show. The fabric is soft and stretchy and super comfortable (I think I wore it every day for a week when I first received it in the mail!). The design of the tank is slimming, particularly if you get it in black, which is great when you’re still dealing with your postpartum body. I especially love how the tank top is extra long to cover up my lower belly pooch.

In general, it’s a simple design that works really well. Everything you need to breastfeed in comfort and maintain a positive self-image. And as a bonus, it doubles as a maternity top so I’ll be able to put it to use for #2, both during my pregnancy and postpartum. YAY!

Learn more about this PTPA Winning Product here.

Check out the Boob website here.

I tend to relax our routines a bit during the summer months.  Now that we are back in school, our more rigid routine is in place and in full force.  Bedtimes are strictly adhered to.   Bathing each night (or first thing in the morning) is a must.   After school activities are starting up again, so we will be running to practices here soon. 

As soon as my kids walk in the door after school, it is homework time.  There is no getting around it, or out of it.  Every day, my kids and my nephew hand me their bags, and it is inspection time.   I inspect because last year, my nephew was found to be hiding his homework from me so he didn’t have to do it.   If there is homework to do, they sit at the kitchen table and work until it is complete.  Then, and only then, they may go and play outside or whatever they choose to do. 

Some people may find it to be a little over the top, as the children are in 4th, 2nd, and Kindergarten.    I’ve had people ask me what it would hurt to let it wait until after dinner - does it have to be right after school?  They just got done with a whole school day.  My answer to that is -  What better time than that?  After all, they should still be in school “mode”, right?  I am strict about this rule at my house for several reasons:

1.  I am trying to teach my kids good school work ethic.  School work must always come first - even before sports and other after school activities.

2.  I am trying to teach my kids to get their jobs done, then it is time to play. 

3.  If the school work is done, there is less stress at bedtime about completing it.  Less stress=better sleep.  I want them to unwind after dinner, not crunching out homework at the last minute. 

4.  Last, but not least, I am trying to teach my kids to be the best students they can be.  School is so important - they need to treat it as their most important job right now.  Hopefully, this will translate to great study skills when they get to highschool and college.

Are you strict with after school routines?  What routine do you use to help your students become they best they can be?

PTPA Award Winning SimplyColors.ca is having a sweet sale - 50% off Rugby and Polo shirts! If you haven’t ordered from them before, now would be a good time to start!

At Simply Colors, you can print your own message on really cool clothes for your little ones.

* colourful basics for newborns up to age 10
* lots of options under $25
* 100% super soft cotton
* prompt service within 1-3 days
* NO HST! (5% GST only)

This is my first time ordering from the site, but based on the thumbs up from PTPA’s parent evaluators, I’m pretty sure I’ll be happy with my purchase. I ordered the sweet little Rugby shirt pictured above (the square frame does not appear on the actual product; its included for editing purposes on the site).

Ryder is into trucks (one day he’ll learn he was named after a trucking company and won’t like them - or us - so much) and he looks smashing in red, so I’m super excited to present him with his new shirt. Shipping was just $2.95 for one item, and there were hundreds of colour and image combinations to choose from.

The cost of the shirt depends on which options you select - the 50% discount is applied to the base price of the plain shirt, and then you may add your custom options. You have your choice of colours, text, text and image, or just an image. Prices vary as your selections change.

You can also save an additional 10% with coupon code BV0810 before September 30th, 2010. The Rugby Shirt above in size 3-4 years, with text and image, less the 10% discount plus $2.95 shipping and 5% GST came to a grand total of $19.05. A pretty sweet deal for a custom shirt!

Click here to shop at SimplyColors.ca.