Ah, the sounds and
smells of summer! Little League, hot dogs, swimming pools, and lemonade stands
... and then, it’s back to school? Yep. Though summer’s in full swing, it's
time to think about what you will need this year for your kids’ back-to-school
clothing and school supplies.
Before you
read through a single back-to-school sales flyer, be sure of two things: what
you need, and what you already have on hand.
We encourage you to get your kids involved in the first phase
of the back-to-school (BTS) frenzy by hosting your family’s first BTS closet and
drawer archeology dig.
When To Do
Saturday or Sunday, soon
What To Do
1. Know What's on the List? The Needs!
a. Often local discount and office supply stores have handy
checklist kiosks for the neighboring schools; your schools’ websites are
another good source for supply lists. Download or grab each kid's checklists as
your starting point for this year’s BTS shopping list.
b. Assemble a clothing list for each of your kids and share it
with them so they understand what is needed this year.
2. Know What You Already
Have.
Clothes
a. Help your kids do
an inventory of their closets.
Figure out what still fits and what doesn't, what needs to be repaired
or could be handed down. Maybe that fall skirt just needs a new button or the loose
pocket repaired. There’s no need to spring for a brand-new backpack if last
year's is still in good shape.
b. Help your kids
check off the clothing items you decide are keepers.
c. Pack/bag up the still-usable
but outgrown stuff that some other kids could put to good use.
School Supplies
a. Help your kids do
an inventory of the household drawers, filing cabinets, and garage storage
areas for school supplies. Many items – like pencils, pens, notebooks, and
scissors – may have been bought on long-ago shopping trips and can be found
stashed under things or in an overlooked drawer.
b. Keep track of what
your kids find by checking off items on your supply list.
c. Consider giving
your kids a point for each item they find on the list. Total up the points at
the end and hand out a small reward to each for a job well done.
Bonus:
Have your kids calculate how much they helped save with the clothing and supply
items they found.
3. Be Charitable.
a. If you have outgrown
clothes to give away, donate them to a local nonprofit so your kids learn to
give to others in need.
b. Bring your kids
along to drop off the clothes and talk about the people who will receive what
you give.
What You Will Need
List of school
supplies
Paper and pencils or
pens
Bags for clothing
donations
Calculator
Talk About It
Did your kids find it
hard to give up their clothes? Or were they reluctant to keep and reuse any of those
old familiar items from last year? Did they have fun unearthing hidden
treasures in drawers around the house? Were they surprised at how much they
helped the family save?
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