Starting school is scary for both parents and children. Before
the big day comes, there are a lot of questions that need answered. Are they
ready, emotionally and intellectually? Who will watch them after school? What
school do we pick? These are just a few of the questions that need answering.
The key to kindergarten readiness is being prepared. We’ll help you parse out
what needs considering before deciding, and then we’ll show you some
kindergarten essentials from Target, the ultimate back-to-school store. Another
tip? Shopping for school can be expensive. Use our Kohls Promo Codes to save big time.
First, you need to determine
whether you and your spouse are ready for kindergarten, too. It’s a big
commitment for everyone, not just your child. Kindergarten readiness means that
the whole family is ready to take on the responsibility of formal education.
You need to determine whether you or your spouse can handle picking up your
child at a moment’s notice, attending parent/teacher conferences, and other
time commitments. You also need to see if the family budget can take on the
added cost of school. It can be expensive, even for public school!
Then you need to determine if
your child is responsible and mature enough to handle sitting still in a
classroom, interacting with other children, and remembering their lunch and
homework. They should be able to spend large amounts of time away from their
parents with few problems, interact with children their age in a positive way,
and handle most small commitments (such as going to the bathroom, picking up
toys) by themselves.
When you’re all ready to take
the leap, it’s time to decide on a school. Different schools approach
kindergarten education in different ways. Some treat it no differently than
other grades, and have the children sit at desks and learn writing, spelling,
math, and other traditional subjects. Others use an arts-based approach, and
let the child learn at their own pace. Some spend the whole day outside. Tour a
number of different schools and determine which learning style suits your
child. When choosing schools, also consider how far it is away from your house,
what neighborhood it’s in, and other practical considerations.
Lastly, it’s time to stock up! Usually your teacher will give
you a list of supplies for you to buy a few weeks before school. But it’s never
a bad idea to take the initiative and buy online when you’re ready. Before
check out, remember to use our Kohls coupon codes 30% off.
You’ll be spending a lot of money on school, so why not cut costs where you
can? Here are some back to school essentials to pick up now.
Circo Pet Pals Backpack – $16
Nothing says “It’s time for
school” quite like a brand-new backpack, and finding the right mix of fun and
functional can make life easier for you and your child. You’ll both love this one
from Circo. It has a cute monster design on the front, and is large enough to
carry books, school supplies, and snacks, but not so big that it will overwhelm
small backs. It even comes with a monster keychain!
BUILT Neoprene Lunch Bag – $9.99
Keep the monster theme going
with this matching lunch bag. Cute, fuzzy monsters adorn this bag, too. It’s
just the right size for stacking small containers of snacks and tucking in a
carton of milk. The bag’s neoprene fabric stretches, stays cool, and best of
all, is easy to clean. An as added bonus, the handle has a clip on it, so you
don’t have to worry about forgotten lunches.
Foogo Leak-Proof Food Jar – $11.59-$15.79
Foogo, a sub-brand of
Thermos, is known for its super cute, super insulated, BPA-free water bottles,
sippy cups, and food containers. These food jars are made of stainless steel,
so you don’t have to worry about them breaking or losing their temperature. Be
sure to stock up. You’ll go through them quickly, and it’s better to have
extras on hand than to remember to wash them every night.
Orla Kiely Sweet Pea Pencil Case – $9.99
For kids, one of the most
exciting things about starting kindergarten is getting to feel like a big kid
with all of their new school supplies. There’s a good chance your child won’t
be doing much writing in class. However, a pencil case is a classic item that
makes kids feel “grown up.” Also, if your child has any medical needs, or
simply wants to keep a trinket or two at their desk, a pencil case is the
perfect place to tuck in any additional items. This one from Orla Kiely fits
the perfect amount of pencils, pens, and markers, plus anything else your child
just has to have.
Crayola Ultimate 153-Piece Crayon Set – $14.99
In kindergarten, arts and
crafts are big. So why not meet the challenge head-on with the ultimate crayon
set? Your kid (and their new friends) will love this massive set that has any
color they’ll ever need, along with a crayon sharpener. It might seem like a
bit much, but trust, us, they’ll use it. And at $14.99, who can resist?
Crayola Gel Markers 80-Count Classpack – $29.49
Pen and pencils are generally
too long and skinny for small hands to grip, so crayons and markers dominate
kindergarten classrooms. Crayola’s gel markers are hands-down the best ones on
the market. The brand has recently started carrying supersized classpacks of
their arts and crafts supplies, meant to last through the entire school year.
These gel markers are resistant to drying out, so they get a lot of mileage.
We know it’s tough to see your baby grow up. But it’s also a
time of new possibilities, and a lot of joy. These tips, as well as our Kohls Promo Codes,
will help the process go smoother. Navigating through the many questions and
long school supply lists may be overwhelming, but it’s worth it to see your
child’s joy and excitement on the first day of school.
Author Bio: Linda is a freelance writer and college
English teacher. She writes on saving money and healthy, fashion and more. For
more of her helpful blog posts, please go to coupon4share.com or G+
to see useful tips on various topics
