Back to School

Turkey and gravy, a strawberry cup, mashed potatoes, green beans, whole-grain roll and one pat of butter. That’s just one example of a sample lunch menu set by the Ohio Department of Education.

It isn’t always easy to navigate the social landscape at school. Making friends and getting involved can feel tough for anyone starting a new school year, whether at a new school or not. Here are a few tips on how to become more involved:

If your home looks more like a classroom with textbooks and assignments strewn about each school night, then it’s probably time to consider creating a dedicated study space.

As you pick up pencils and backpacks for the upcoming school year, don’t overlook some of the other extras that can help keep your easily distracted student interested in learning all year long.

One of the best lessons any of us learn from school is that—before we even get there—it’s a good thing to do anything that keeps the kids from whining, the parents from screaming and the bus driver from tapping his fingers on the steering wheel and glancing at his watch while he waits.

The back-to-school madness is approaching. Gone will be the lazy summer days where late nights, sleeping in and lax routines were the norm. It’s back to juggling the demands of your job with the needs of your on-the-go children while also squeezing in chores, homework, making dinner and shuttling everyone to athletic practices, recitals and doctors’ appointments. And, oh yeah, at some point, everyone is supposed to sleep.