Well after months and months of isolation the time has come for kids to go back to school (enter praise hands). however this time it will look a lot different than we are all used to. Some of us may be going back to school, some of us will be virtual learning and some of will be homeschooling. Since we’re all in this together adjusting to this “new normal,” I wanted to share some back to school tips to help us all cope.
Back to School Tips
Saving Money
Covid hit the wallet hard. Our family has had to make some serious financial adjustments considering Matt and I are both self employed. Saving money where we can has been huge. Thats why I did most of my BTS shopping at Dollar General this year. We are virtual learning this year for at least the first month but I went ahead and purchased her backpack and lunchbox because as soon she saw them she absolutely had to have them! Keatyn is obsessed with space and they had the perfect space themed backpack for only $12! And she got her sister a shark themed lunchbox since she loves them so much. (Although I’m pretty sure she will be stealing it, they love to trade lunchboxes) Backpacks can be extremely pricey so making cuts where you can when shopping can be extremely beneficial.
Create A Study Space
It’s hard for kids to concentrate as is but when they are now forced to do a majority of their work from home, it is vital to create a space for them away from distractions. We made Keatyn her own study space in her room by setting up a table with chairs and stocked it with all of her school supplies. We also got those from Dollar General because once again you can’t beat the price. We stocked up on not only her backpack and lunchbox but also notebooks, loose leaf paper, pencils, pens, pencil sharpener, erasers, pencil boxer ruler and so much more including snacks for lunchtime all for $50!
Nutrition || Snacks and Lunch
Speaking of snacks and food, another tip is to make sure your child is staying energized by eating regularly. They have a set snack and lunchtime for a reason at school. If your child is attending school make sure to pack a nutritious lunch. If virtually learning at home/home schooling then set specific schedules. We stocked up on sandwich essentials, lunchables, snacks in addition to fresh fruit and veggies to make sure the kids stay on their A game. I love Dollar General’s Good & Smart brand for reasonable priced snacks and food for the family. They have really tasty trail mixes and the girls love them.
Safety
Practicing safe habits is so important now more than ever. For those of us with kids going back to school, they will probably have to wear masks. Make sure to stay stocked up on masks. Also I’d advise stocking up on hand sanitizer, hand wipes, gloves and tissues. Dollar General has an amazing assortment, they have designer masks or regular masks too. You can also shop through their app and opt for in store pickup which is my personal favorite way to shop. They truly care about their customer’s safety! All you have to do is download the app and shop. You can also get digital coupons with their DG Digital Coupons. Every Saturday you can use the $5 OFF $25 digital coupon.
Patience and Kindness.
This should go without saying but it’s more important than ever. Treat everyone with patience and kindness. We are all just trying to figure this out. Our teachers are stressed beyond reason. Some of them are now having to adjust to virtually teaching and some are having to put their health at risk by teaching in school. Be kind and helpful. Side note did you know that Dollar General offers a 20% OFF teacher’s discount? Teachers just need to show their badge at checkout to save on their entire purchase. Link to the teacher’s landing page.
Dollar General is creating a safe shopping environment with sneeze guards in all stores, social distancing, and their in store pickup option available at certain stores. Make sure to take advantage of their DG Digital Coupons like $5 OFF $15 stationary digital coupon and on each Saturday when you use the $5 OFF $25 digital coupon.
Teachers, Dollar General is helping you out too. Just show your badge for 20% OFF in stores. Be sure to visit Teacher’s Central to get tips and more ideas for this school year. Good luck moms & dads, we got this!
What are some of your favorite back to school tips? Let me know in a comment below!