Ahh, back to school time. Who doesn’t love it? The excitement of a new year, a fresh start, and seeing all your friends again. Even now as an adult I still feel this near-irresistible draw to tartan and loafers in the fall…
3. Hand Sanitizer
2. First Aid Kit
1. Mobile Phone
It may be controversial, but I bought my older daughter a cell phone when she entered middle school last year. She was going to be walking to and from the bus stop on her own, and getting home from school before I got home from work: I needed to know she could call for help if she needed it. I also wanted her to text me when she was home safe and sound. As a teacher myself, I’m not at liberty to take calls in the classroom so it wasn’t feasible for her to call me at work to let me know she made it home, so texting seemed the perfect option. Now of course this won’t be necessary for all families, or indeed for younger children, but I felt it was a great way to give my daughter a measure of freedom; for instance, she could text me at 2:55 to say she was going to her friend’s house after school instead of always having to make plans in advance. I got her a very basic, simple plan with hardly any minutes included, but unlimited text messages. She knew she wasn’t allowed to make calls unless it was an emergency, and in a year of having the phone, she’s never once gone over her allotted minutes. This year, she’s going to be responsible to pick her younger sister every day after school and walk her home – it’s going to be a great relief to me knowing they’re only a text message or phone call away.
Jen says
Having a first aid kit is such a fabulous idea! I am always looking for these things when I need them but being prepared ahead of time with alleviate the stress of getting it in the moment.