{"id":5915,"date":"2015-08-13T06:00:57","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T11:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/professional-organizer.com\/WordPress\/?p=5915"},"modified":"2015-08-08T08:10:52","modified_gmt":"2015-08-08T13:10:52","slug":"back-to-school-tips-for-busy-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/professional-organizer.com\/WordPress\/back-to-school-tips-for-busy-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Back to School Tips for Busy Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"back<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The school year starts off in a few weeks. It’s a mad dash from August to June with dates, activities, homework, dinner and more.\u00a0 As parents we are striving for a level of organization and sanity.\u00a0 These three back to school tips will make your year more organized and less chaotic.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Weekly planning time<\/h3>\n

Most of your kids invitations and information comes in through email and websites.\u00a0 It’s hard to consolidate it.\u00a0 Weekly planning time gives you the opportunity to search through email, school sites, teacher sites and other spots where that information is shared.\u00a0 Gather up your family calendar and task list, as well as a beverage of choice, and spend an\u00a0 hour gleaning information. It’s also helpful to sit with your middle and early high school students and make a weekly grid of their homework and after school activities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Choose your calendar that works best for you.\u00a0 If\u00a0 you love paper planners, use a paper planner. You can always shoot a photo and share it with your family.\u00a0 Cozi and Google calendar offer online real time access for everyone in your family.\u00a0 If you like auditory reminders, set your online calendar and “invite” your family for them to receive alerts too.\u00a0 Use what works best for you!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Family meeting<\/h3>\n

There may be some eye rolling, especially from your spouse, when you mention a family meeting. <\/a>You can call it the family huddle, gathering time or whatever you prefer.\u00a0 Hosting a time when everyone shares calendar events and family activities makes family efforts run smoother.\u00a0\u00a0 There are always last minute things like baking cupcakes and purchasing poster board. But there will be fewer emergencies when you share during a family time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It’s hard to find a good time to meet after you are back to school. It’s in finding what works for your family that will make hosting your family meeting happen.\u00a0 Some families sit together after church on Sunday. Some families meet at 5 pm each Sunday.\u00a0 Decide when you can consistently meet and get started. It’s good to make this pay day for allowances too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Family dinner<\/h3>\n

Family time together can never be undervalued.\u00a0 A shared meal is the time for us to share our thoughts and feelings.\u00a0 But how to overcome all those distractions?\u00a0\u00a0 Be realistic about your options.\u00a0 Even if there is only one time a week, set that expectation.\u00a0 Dinner time should be a no tech time for everyone, including parents.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"family<\/a><\/p>\n

Try something new this year for family dinner conversations. This\u00a0 dinner conversation jar<\/a> is filled conversation starters.\u00a0 It’s a fresh take on that same old conversation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wishing you and your family the best start to the best back to school ever!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

More tips for back to school here.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  The school year starts off in a few weeks. It’s a mad dash from August to June with dates, activities, homework, dinner and more.\u00a0 As parents we are striving for a level of organization and sanity.\u00a0 These three back to school tips will make your year more organized and less chaotic. Weekly planning time […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1495,4],"tags":[48,1496],"class_list":["post-5915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-back-to-school","category-family-organizing","tag-back-to-school","tag-busy-parents-and-organizing"],"yoast_head":"\n3 Back to School Tips for Busy Parents - Ellen's Blog, Professional Organizing for Kingwood & Houston<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Three back to school tips for busy parents!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/professional-organizer.com\/WordPress\/back-to-school-tips-for-busy-parents\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3 Back to School Tips for Busy Parents - 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