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Grand Prize: $100 Target gift card, backpack, school supplies and Mott’s product.
2nd Prize: Lunch box, tote bag and Mott’s product
3rd Prize: Mott’s coupons

There was so much anticipation to the start of the school year, that once it started, it seems to be steamrolling by. We’re nearly a month in, and what began as excitement and chaos is now slowing turning into the daily grind.

But of course, just as our children are learning  new things everyday, I’m finding that as we move along, I’m picking up new tricks to keep things organized, help keep my son excited about schoolwork and homework (not easy!), and manage to get out of the house on time in the morning.

If you’re finding it hard to stay in the  your groove, I came across some great tips that’ll help, courtesy of Dr. Mary Mokris, education specialist for Kumon Math and Reading Centers.

Praise your children daily. Let them know that you believe in them, you think they are special and you have confidence in them. In our home, we celebrate on Friday afternoons if my son behaved all week at school, that is, with a trip to the ice cream parlor or some other fun activity. It gives him an incentive to listen, but also lets him know that working hard makes me proud.

Focus on the positives. Reflect on the new skills they are gaining that are needed to be successful in life, such as independence, responsibility, perseverance and time management. I have to do this a lot. My son inherited my perfectionist tendencies (poor little guy), so he tends to be hard on himself if a picture doesn’t come out just right or if he can’t quite master a new skill. Praise, praise, praise really helps.

Set up a study area for your child. Create an area that is well-ventilated and well-lit. Be sure it’s equipped with all necessary supplies. For me, it’s pencils, crayons, construction paper, and scissors. Older kids will need a dictionary, their computer, etc.  Most important, no distractions allowed! That means no TV, phone, or instant messaging during homework.

Establish a consistent homework routine from the start. What works for us so far is coming home, washing up, snack (he’s usually famished), then homework. As soon as my son is finished, then he gets to watch some TV or play. No matter when you fit homework in, the idea is to help children see that it is a priority in your home.

Get acquainted with your child’s teachers and keep the communication open. Teachers are so busy at the beginning of the year getting to know their new students. And often, they don’t meet the parents until weeks later at open school night. This year, I made it a point to ask for a quick meeting with my son’s teacher right away. I wanted to get to know her, and stay on top of my son’s progress. I’m so against the idea that teachers are adversaries — we have to do our best to work with the teacher.

Parents, what are your tips and tricks to stay on track now that back-to-school excitement has worn off? Share in the comments below.

-Dawn Papandrea

Missy Chase Lapine, aka the Sneaky Chef, provided her favorite back-to-school simple recipes featuring Mott’s applesauce and juice. Mott’s products are Missy’s super sneaky ingredient because they’re an easy way to get kids servings of real fruit. Check out the video!

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Can you remember being a kid and getting excited about school supply shopping at the end of August — ya know, right before school started? After enjoying almost a full summer of not thinking about school, spending endless hours playing freeze tag and punchball outside, and waiting for the ice cream truck to pass by, something strange would happen. We’d actually start looking forward to seeing our classmates again, meeting our new teachers, and heck, even cracking open those fresh sweet-smelling marble notebooks. What we couldn’t fathom in June, and wouldn’t dare admit in July, we’d come to confess in August — we couldn’t wait to go back to school. So why don’t we give our kids the same opportunity to look forward to September?

That notion is why I’m rebelling against this year’s sense of urgency with regard to Back-to-School shopping season. I hit a toy store in late June to pick up some sunscreen, pool floaties, and other summertime gear, and I could barely navigate my shopping cart without bumping into some early bird parent with a shopping list and a cell phone, trying to find out if little Molly needed a three-subject notebook with folder pockets or without. I actually found myself perusing the backpacks and lunchboxes, and could not believe that they were completely picked through with items thrown all about. Did I mention that this was in June?! Are we as a consumer society losing our collective minds?

I’m not saying to ignore all things academic over the summer. I did my share of reading and learning to keep my brains fresh over the summer, and now I’m making sure my son is doing the same. I’m just not harping on the idea that school is right around the corner, or that summer is halfway over. He’s having way too much fun, and I’m not going to wish the weeks away by stocking up on loose leaf and protractors.

So here is it, already August, and I still haven’t gone shopping. I took a peek in the supermarket the other day, and I noticed that the seasonal school supply section was a lot smaller than it was a month ago. After all, they have to make room for the Halloween candy. Apparently, it’s never too early to buy candy for holiday goodie bags even if said holiday is three months away!

Nevertheless, I’ve decided to enjoy what’s left of the lazy, hazy days of summer, and go school supply shopping right before school starts. Hopefully I’ll be able to find all of the items on my list. And maybe while I’m there, since the Halloween candy will be almost gone, I can pick up a string of Christmas lights.

Moms, do you think we rush too quickly into shopping seasons?