Will you be waving your young people off for a new school year or sobbing into your cornflakes that the summer holidays are over? I am a mixture of both, I love having mine at home and not having to do the school run and ironing school uniform but it signals Chloe heading back to University for year 2 which is hard as a mum!
It is also a big year for Dylan and Erin. Dyl is heading into year 11 which means GCSEs and plenty of revision! He is not exactly the most motivated at the minute so I am using all my teacher voices and tricks on getting him revising for GCSE’s. He has no idea what to do next or where his passions lie and its really hard to be motivated when you are not sure of your goal.
Erin is going into year 5 but it is this academic year that she needs to start preparing for the 11+ that measures her academic ability for a grammar school. Whilst the other two did not go down the grammar route and went to an amazing local comprehensive (that was exactly the right school for them) Erin has a greater aptitude for academia and we would choose the grammar school if she passes the test. Each child is an individual and you have to do what is right by each of them.
Back to school is as important as a new year to me, I prepare the kids by setting them up with new uniform and other back to school items as it reminds them it is a fresh start. It is a chance to wipe the slate clean and draw a line in the sand. I encourage them to focus on growth mindsets in the classroom and make a good first impression as they settle into the new school year.
As a family, we are trying to be more sustainable and reduce our single-use plastic. It is challenging to change our habits but using a water bottle is one that we have all signed up and this includes Lee and me as the children’s role models. The kids play alot of sport and again water bottles are really important as they need to keep hydrated.
For teenagers Wilko lunch bags are super cute, practical and a bargain at just £2! The Lunch Tote will keep food cool and safe. It’s the perfect size for your work lunch and is great for small picnics. The lunch bag has a 100% PEVA food safe lining that contains spills and is easy to clean. Comes with a secure hook and loop fastener.
The plastic container is ideal for storage whether it is pasta salad or some cooked pieces for lunchThe water bottle matches and is another great price at just £5.
Smiggle is always a winner for tweens and Erin is no exception. The bright prints and fun water bottles are a tweens dream and the bags are a fab size.
The Smiggle back to school range consists of bundles or individual products. Erin has been giving the Glitz Backpack to review and we love how roomy it is.
The dazzling backpack is from the Glitz collection and is a must-have for all fashionistas! This backpack is perfect for school, sport & other activities! Packed with all your favourite features.
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- 4 zipped compartments – main compartment with double zip
- Dual drink bottle sleeves
- Padded adjustable shoulder straps
- Padded carry handle
- 15-inch laptop compartment
- Lined media device pocket with headphone access
- Internal name label
Erin loves it and will be using it for school along with the lunchbox and bottle were we sent to get us back to school in the right mindset.
Another joy of parenting primary school children is how often they misplace their cardigans or bits of PE kit. They are not quite up to scratch at keeping their belongings together and therefore it is important to label everything up. We use my name tags which can be personalised by colour, font and even with a picture. Erin chose a hockey stick to add to her name. The labels can be used for uniform, stationery and equipment.
We are all trying to drink more water as we know how important it is for concentration and focus. Bewater have revolutionised this by placing gemstones in or around water. Gems are believed to change the structure and taste of water plus science shows that water has memory and picks up information from its surroundings. Bewater have a range of junior bottles that have gemstones inside them. For example, Amethyst is believed to bring intuition and mental clarity – great for concentration. We opted for this bottle and look forward to reaping the benefits it promises to bring.
These back to school essentials will help you start the year in the best possible way and get you ready for school.
