Back-to-School Advice from Julie Cole

The Four A’s of August

It's hard to believe the summer is winding down, and the school season is fast approaching. September can be a busy and chaotic time for families as they transition back into every day routines.

To get the lowdown from a true parenting expert, we consulted Mabel's Label's co-founder and mother of six, Julie Cole, to share her tips on preparing for back-to-school time.

To take full advantage of the month of August when students are out of school, Julie suggests parents focus on the four A's of August:

Appointments - Take advantage of the break to set up doctor, dentist, eye (and any other appointments) now so your children can avoid missing any school in the fall.

Academics - Over the summer holiday, learning loss popularly referred to as "The Summer Slide" can occur and studies have shown that students can experience a potential decline over this time.  Use the next month to focus on reading every day, making math fun and taking summer educational field trips.

Adjusting Schedules - Encourage children to ease back into their school routines to avoid experiencing an abrupt change the first day of school.   Getting back in the swing of things a couple of weeks early will make the first day of school much easier!

Activities – Take the time now proactively to plan, register and decide which extracurricular activities your kids will be doing. Look at the family calendar and consider your budget. Remember that you don’t have to say YES to every activity they want to do!

Enjoy the rest of summer and follow these four A's to make back-to-school time a breeze!