Free Printable Lunchbox Notes

I love to cheer up my kids while they are at school with a little note in their lunch box.  I used to just cut a square of paper and add a sticker and a handwritten note.  But, I decided to change things up and make it easier on me by searching for free printable notes to put in their lunchboxes.  I found some great ones that I plan to use all year long. 

• Deal Wise Mommy
• Frog Prince Paperie
• alphamom
• Lunchbox Jokes

I hope your children get as much joy out of them as my kids have.  Get creative and make some of your own.  If you have any printable lunchbox notes to share, I would love to see them.  Please leave a comment with the link.

Free Printable Halloween Notes

Halloween is almost here!  For fun I decided to put a Halloween themed note and a Halloween treat in my kids' lunchboxes today.  I found two great links with free printable Halloween notes great for stashing in a lunchbox.  Print them for your kids and add a little personal note to bring a smile to your child's face.

• Halloween Lunchbox Notes from Creative Bubbles
• Halloween Lunchbox Jokes from Decoration Ideas Online

Have a Say at Your Child's School

I felt there was room for improvement when it came to my child's school communicating with the parents.  After doing a bit a research, I realized the school's PTA is responsible for keeping the parents informed of the happenings at school.  So, I decided to become an active member of the PTA at my kids' school. 

I contacted the PTA President via email and found out that there was a need for someone to maintain the fairly new school Facebook page and the newsletter.  So, I quickly volunteered to help out with both - especially since these are the main means of communication with parents, which was my biggest concern. 

Now, I'm a PTA board member.  The title felt a bit overwhelming at first but, working on the Facebook page and newsletter are things I can do at my own pace and on my own hours from home.  So, it is perfect for me being a stay-at-home mom with two Elementary School kids and a 2 1/2 year in tow.  The bonus is, I have the opportunity to speak up about decisions being made at my kids' school and I finally get to see things change that had always worried me. 

If you feel there is a need for change at your child's school and you can spare 1 HOUR per month, join your school's PTA and make a difference in your child's education.  There is a membership fee for the year but, it's usually small.  Our school's PTA membership is $5 for the year.  That's it!  So, join the PTA and speak up for your child.

Filling Your Child's Lunchbox

I'm trying to convince my boys to take lunch to school this year.  We picked up an inexpensive lunchbox at Walmart, a "cool" Camelbak kids bottle from Target (which hasn't leaked once!) and I have found some great homemade school lunch ideas online.  Hopefully they will think it's fun to take their lunch and have something healthy to eat.

Lunch Ideas

• Lunchbox Ideas 
• Healthy School Lunches and Snacks
• 30 Ideas for School Lunches
• 5 Healthy Lunchbox Foods That Don't Need to Be Chilled

Don't forget a nice note to help keep your little ones going for the rest of the day. Or try the printable Lunchbox Jokes on Kraft Foods Lunchbox Ideas link. If they can't read yet, draw pictures they will understand. 



Healthy School Snacks

My niece is starting Preschool this fall and my sister called me asking for a list of ideas for school snacks.  She would like to pack her healthy snacks.  So, I put together a list of healthy snacks, with help from a list sent home from my son's Elementary school a couple of years ago.  This is what I've come up with:

Snack Ideas

• Apple Slices
• Plums
• Pears
• Bananas
• Oranges/Orange Slices
• Fruit Cups
• Dried Fruit, ex: Raisins, Apricots, Craisins, etc.
• Carrots
• Celery Sticks
• Cucumber Slices
• Yogurt
• String Cheese
• Cheese Cubes
• Goldfish CrackersCereal
• Graham Crackers/Teddy Grahams
• Saltines
• Animal Crackers
• Wheat Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Pretzels
• Jello Cups
• Trail Mix
• Nuts

Save money by buying in bulk and sending snacks to school in reusable containers.  For example:  instead of buying fruit cups, buy the large can and divide into your own containers.  You could also make your own trail mix with raisins, goldfish and pretzels or anything else you choose.

Going Back-to-School with Ease

My kids start school in just a few weeks.  School preparations are in full-swing.  From buying school supplies to figuring out what to pack for lunches and snacks, it can all be overwhelming at times.  So, I searched from some tips on how to make the transition from summer to school easier on everyone.

Tips

• Back-to-School Cheat Sheet by Good Housekeeping
• Parents Magazine's Back to School
• Back 2 School, SchoolFamily.com

On these sites, you can find helpful tips on how to communicate with your child's teacher, the brands to buy for school supplies, lunch ideas and more.  I hope you and your kids have a terrific school year!

Back-To-School Books

Reading books to your children about school is a great way to prepare them for kindergarten or getting them ready to return to school.  Books about school are also great to have in the classroom.  Here are a few of my favoirtes and more:

 

Entering Kindergarten 

• "I Love School"  by Philemon Sturges
• "Little Critter: First Day of School" by Mercer Mayer
• "The Berenstain Bears Go to School" by Stan & Jan Berenstain 
• "Kindergarten Rocks!" by Katie Davis
• "David Goes to School" by David Shannon
• "The Twelve Days of Kindergarten: A Counting Book" by Deborah Lee Rose & Carey Armstrong-Ellis 

Back-to-School

• From the Black Lagoon Series by Mike Thaler (My 1st grader picked these books each time his class went to the library.)
• Bookshelf Bests: Favorite Books for Back-to-School by Scholastic

For coloring pages about going back to school, check out my post Free Back-to-School Coloring Pages.

Free Back-to-School Coloring Pages

Walking through the store a few days ago, I was surprised to see the back-to-school displays all set up and ready to go.  One of my little ones will be starting kindergarten this year and although he is very excited, I still feel the need to prepare him.  To ease my kids into the new school year, I thought it would be fun to color pictures about school.  So, I hopped into my desk chair and typed away.  Here are my favorite sites for free and printable back-to-school coloring pages: 

• Coloring Page Tuesdays by Elizabeth O. Dulemba
• Kids World
• Color Me Good
• www.coloring.ws

Another great way to prepare your child for starting school or returning to school, is to read them books about school.  Visit my post Back-to-School Books, to see some of my favorites.  And for more free coloring pages, click on the Coloring Pages tab at the top. 

Organizing School Papers

All the paper work and art work that comes home with my kids can be overwhelming at times.  So, I knew I had to find a way to organize it all.  I found what works for me and maybe it can work for you too.

1.  Artwork Display:  For all artwork that we would like to display but can't fit on the fridge, I made a display with 4 nails, 12 clothespins and some twine.  In my kids toy room I chose a wall to display their artwork from school.  I decided to make two rows (one for each school age child).  Each row was created by using two nails and stringing a string of twine (or yarn) from one nail to the other securing the ends with knots.  Then I used the clothespins to hang their artwork.  To make it a little more colorful you can paint your wooden clothespins or buy clips in a variety of colors. 

2.  School Bins:  We have small plastic bins for each child.  The bottom of the bin is at least the size of a 8" x 11" piece of paper and deep enough to hold several papers.  I let the kids pick the color of their bin.  My kids chose dark bins, so we used masking tape for name labels.  I tucked them away in cabinet that they have easy access to.  At the end of each school day we go through their book bags and put all worksheets and artwork (that's not put on display) in their school bin.  I go through their bins every once in a while and toss unneeded and unwanted papers to avoid an overflow of papers.

3.  School Folders:  Keeping track of all the informative papers sent home can be a hassle, especially if you have kids in different schools like me.  So, I created a folder for each child and put their name on it.  I use the plastic/durable portfolio folders with two pockets and 3 fasteners inside.  I like to use page protectors in the fasteners for Lunch Menus, Class Schedules, School Contact Information, etc.  I keep all the folders neatly together in a magazine file right on my desk.

Each day when my kids get home from school we go through their book bags and decide what goes where.  My house is less cluttered and I'm less stressed.  Mission Accomplished!