We make the beginning of academic year easier with these back-toschool tips. Try these morning exercises, breakfast ideas and organising shortcuts, and your kids will be off to a smart start! By Sylvia Ong.
We make the beginning of academic year easier with these back-toschool tips. Try these morning exercises, breakfast ideas and organising shortcuts, and your kids will be off to a smart start! By Sylvia Ong.
1 Shape some sandwiches.
Turn peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into a special treat by using Tovolo Sandwich Shapers, $17, from Robinsons. This sandwich slicer trims away crusts and turns breakfast into a flower or whale. Plus, you can easily pack the sandwich into a container.
2 Fill up a stationery box.
Here’s an easy solution to save time searching for stationery: Fill a box with compartments with useful items like pencils, paper, markers, colour pencils and everything handy your child needs for homework. Look out for boxes or even caddies at craft and hardware shops, or try the TJENA box, $4.90, from IKEA. It comes in various sizes and colours and has cut-out handles that’s easy to reach for and carry around.
3 Make a Post-it clip.
Help them stay organised with a homemade reminder clip – a Post-it note attached to a document clip – and tag it onto their school bag so they can check before stepping out of the house. It’ll remind them of the consent forms, sports equipment or packed lunches that they need to bring to school.
4-8 To help little sleepyheads get in gear, have them do a few simple stretches. These movements will help loosen up the muscles, get blood into their head and help them focus better through the day.
Butterfly
Sit up straight in bed. Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together. Point your elbows to the side and make butterfly antennae with your pointer fingers above your head. Wriggle your antennae and flap your arms and legs like wings until you’re ready to take flight.
Volcano
Stand tall with your feet together and fingertips touching in front of your chest. Jump up and spring open your arms and feet. Bring your hands to your chest, and watch them as you raise them above your head. Breathe out and open up your arms outwards and lower them to your sides. Continue to erupt like this several times, raising your arms when you inhale, and lowering them when you exhale.
Reach for the sun
Stand up tall. Take a deep breath as you reach one hand up and grab the sun. Pull it down to your belly, exhale and say “ah”. Now change hands and follow the same actions. Repeat a few times.
Shake like jelly.
Very simple: Just wriggle and jiggle your whole body from head to toe.
Star Jump.
Squat down and wrap your arms close around your body. Explode back up as high as possible, spreading your arms and legs as far as possible. Repeat a few times.
9 Beautiful breakfast.
Eating cereal and juice from a fancy bowl and cup is far more fun than eating it out of plain white, regular tableware. Pick up some kid-friendly plates, bowls and spoon, like this melamine bowl by Rice, $12, and the eco-friendly Hungry Giraffe Cup and colourful spoons by Zuperzozial, $10.90 and 16.50 (for six), all from Robinsons.
10 Label belongings.
The expense of replacing lost gear and stationery can really add up, so it’s useful to label your kids’ uniform, bags and stationery supplies. Try out Brother’s electronic labellers for fast and easy printouts, and their flexibility to create laminated and wash-proof fabric labels for books to uniform that stick on and stay on. Look for the Hello Kitty edition PT-D200KT, $88, from Popular, that comes with pre-designed Hello Kitty symbols and black ink ribbon.
11 Get serious about stationery.
Your child (and you) will love going back to school with these cute stationery. Just remember to label them well so they don’t get misplaced!
12 Don’t forget a thing.
There’s a lot to remember at the start of term, from new email addresses to important dates and stationery lists. An A5-size weekly diary, $16.95, from Smiggle, makes it easy for your child to keep track of it all. They’re compact enough to fit into the backpack and come in funky, colourful designs to jot down reminders.
13 Drink something different.
Give yourself and your kids a soft drink treat without the sugar and artificial flavours. Ice Mountain sparkling water, $1.20, from supermarkets, has a hint of lemon and grapefruit flavours and contains no sugar and calories! Cheers to that!
14 “Fast food” for breakfast.
Running out of ideas for breakfast? Surprise your child with this quick and easy CP Shrimp Wonton Noodle with Vegetable, $4.50, from major supermarkets. Score some brownie points and don’t tell them that all you had to do was to add the soup powder and water to the bowl, and microwave on high for four to five minutes.
15 Wear better shoes.
Who says school shoes can’t be slightly sophisticated? Adidas Back To School shoes, $49, from Bata, offer subtle styles to go nicely with the school uniform, and enough traction and comfort for running, skipping, and jumping, too. Unlike regular school shoes, the Adidas Back To School models are fitted with OrthoLite insoles that are washable and treated with antimicrobial to prevent fungus, bacteria and odour. Available in all-white and all-black models.
16-18 Best kids’ backpacks.
Most child-friendly
Our children’s school bags weigh about 5 kg. A regular backpack will cause our little ones to slouch as they walk. But a well-designed one ike the ergobag, $198, from www.ergokid.com, is packed with technologies that shift the weight to the hips instead of stressing the shoulders. It has an adjustable aluminium frame that suits children from seven to 12 years old, and can last through the primary school years if used with proper care. It also comes with a two-year warranty.
Good value
Deuter OneTwo backpacks, $179, from Isetan, boast the Active-Control-Fit system which features flexible steel springs that align with each individual child’s back and also follow their movements. Its S-shaped shoulder straps provide comfortable padding support, so there’s no pressure points or chafing.
For light duty.
On tuition days, you want a light, simple bag with a pop of colour – that’s it! Outdoor’s range of kids’ backpacks, $59, from TANGS at Tang Plaza, come in a variety of cute colours and designs and are made with water-resistant fabric.
19 Haven for homework time.
Believe it or not, experts say that fidgeting while sitting is a natural form of behaviour to spur your child’s development. That’s why German brand Moll worked with doctors to design desks and chairs that encourage optimally correct seating postures. Workstations are adjustable to your child’s proportions. Desk and chair are priced at $1,970 and $1,135, from www.ergokid.com.
20 Let them chill.
Switch your children’s usual water bottles for the Thermos FFI-400F straw bottle, $49, from major department stores, and delight them with cold water – a godsend on hot mornings with P.E periods. Add ice cubes for an extra “brain freeze”. It also comes with a washable sling pouch to tote to school and out to excursions. W
PHOTOS : CHIA YOON NYEN.
