Back to School RoseArt and Board Dudes Giveaway
We are slowly getting into the daily back to school routine and it hasn’t been easy. Phrases like, “we have to go AGAIN today” and “not that for lunch again” have already made an appearance. So I ‘m thinking amongst all the PTA sign-up sheets and homework schedules I should do a giveaway from RoseArt and The Board Dudes.
You like? GOOD!
RoseArt is truly a company that thinks outside the page when it comes to all things art for lil kids and The Board Dudes are just plain coolio! Right now I’m in love with The Write Dudes neon infinity permanent markers and the RoseArt color blanks… good thing BOTH of those are included in this giveaway. It’s a HUGE rad prize pack that will put some fun into your back to school supply list!
Here’s what’s included for the winner:
From RoseArt:
Color Blanks – in motion
32 count white and colored chalk
24 crayons
5 paint brushes
12 SuperTip classic washable markers
10 tubs of fun dough.
From The Board Dudes/The Write Dudes:
12 Infinity permanent markers in neon
scribble stuff – 8 owl pencils erasers and sharpener
8 metallic ink gel pens
junk food puzzle erasers
10 No 2 pencils
8 2 in 1 dry erase markers
All you have to to do win is leave one comment (one entry per person) on this post with any back to school tips you would like to share with me.
Here are two tips from me:
#1 On bath nights I dress my kiddos in their outfit for the next day and they are already ready in the morning. (Don’t judge! I have 4 kiddos 5 and under and work from home. This works and you will thank me later!)
#2 Buy a few packages of the Scribble Stuff puzzle erasers (pictured above) and wrap each up individually as gifts for the class. Kids go ape over the lil’ things and it’s a practical cost effective class gift.
AND check out these great ideas from this year’s Back to School Feast at our place!
Good luck friends. Giveaway ends next Saturday 9/29/12 at noon.
Kara-Noel has been “crafting” since she could hold a glue gun! When she isn’t hanging with her Hot Hubby, chasing down her four kiddos (5 and under) or napping you’ll find her blogging at Eli’s Lids The Blog!
[...] you have to to do win is head on over to my post over at OC Family and leave a comment with a back to school tip for me. (one entry per [...]
Great giveaway! My back to school tip is to freeze sandwiches in advance, take them out the morning of, and they defrost perfectly by lunchtime!
i would definitely start the back to school wakeup, bedtime routine at least 3 days earlier before school starts
This is a great giveaway!
My back to school tip is I wash and prep fruit/veggies and other small snacks (right when I get home from grocery shopping) in single kid-friendly portions to have readily available to stuff in lunch sacks or to have the kids easily grab after school for snacking!
Back to school tip. pick out all the clothes/outfits for the week on the weekend and lay them out. We used a hanging closet organizer. Hopefully ending morning clothing choice battles.
My tip is to always have family dinner each night. It is a great time for kids to tell you all about their day!
Get everything together the night before.
My tip is to start getting your kids ready to go back to school at least 2 weeks ahead of time so they can get use to getting up early again.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Making sure clothes are picked out and backpacks are packed the night before.
Only buy what you know they will need the first day.
I like to make sure everything is prepared ahead of time. No stress that way. We virtual school so the weeks Lab Sheets, Portofolios and Tests are printed out on Sunday night and ready for the week. Breakfast and vitamins are ready and easy. Clothes are clean and all set for the day the night before.
At the beginning of each week plan out a week’s worth of lunches (if applicable), housework, appointments, ie. scheduling of the things you know have to get accomplished during the week. Things will pop up, but you need to have it together on top of getting your kids off to school.
I like to plan ahead for weekdays meals at home so we’re less likely to eat out!
Lay out clothes and pack backpack the night before
My tip is to freeze the juice box or capri sun, and use it as an ice pack in their lunch.
Don’t overschedule your kids after school; they are often tired and need some good old-fashioned down time to just play, explore, or read.
Each night before bed, my kids and I check the weather for the next day. Each kid than decides what type of clothes to wear the next day and sets them out including shoes, hair things, accessories etc… That way we have erased meltdowns in the morning caused by favorite clothes being dirty, shoes missing or anything else that can cause a meltdown when we are walking out the door.
Instead of asking the dreaded “So what did you do in school today?” To which they answer that they forgot or nothing, ask “What was the best thing that happened today” You’ll get much more information and details this way!
Before school starts I put together a rewards chart for my child to follow to learn her responsibilities. I also make a list of the AM schedule and PM schedule easy for them to follow. Rewards are set for easy achievement and can be time at the park, ice cream after school. I can also give bonus rewards for catching her in good behavior and offer frequent positive phrase.
This goes a long way and builds a consistent schedule, encourages good behavior, establishes routine and self esteem.
Talk to kids about 1 thing that they are grateful for that happened that day when they are getting ready for bed. A nice way to end the day.
Read! 20 min a day sounds like a lot, but right before bed is great. No TV, reading lulls little one off to sleep. Great lifetime habit!
Great idea!
All wonderful ideas from everyone! Remember to praise them for a job well done. Each week I buy them something small even it cost $1, they love to get something.
My kiddo needs some mommy time in the morning so I’ve learned to make sure that I get up 10-15 minutes earlier than necessary so that I can have that 1 on 1 time with him. Makes for a happier boy when I drop him off at school and we aren’t rushing so much to get out the door which makes things go so much smoother.
My back-to-school tip would be to comb our girls hair the night before, this really helps the next morning to give it a quick brush and out the door!
Hope we win! My two kids LOVE to draw and write and the supplies are great! Several tips: WE always lay the kids’ clothes out the night before, letting them pick (weather appropriate) so there is no time wasted in the morning. Also when the kids have had a lot of homework or done really well on important tests, especially standardized tests that determine their placement, we reward them with a trip to the beach and dinner out-their choice of restaurant!
Back-to-school tip: Review spelling words in the car on the way to school the day of tests to help the kiddo not be super nervous at test time.
Back-to-school tips: Be organized. Always keep your car keys in the same place. Prepare lunches the night before. Have outfit picked out the night before.
We built a model. Got some ply wood and made a boy. Ling stick for the body and two ahort sticks for arms attached with hinges. Stuffed a small pillow case with cotton and drew a face on it and then cemented the long stick into a small bucket so it stands upright. Every night my son gets “miles2″ dressed so in the morning he puts on what is layers out. It’s fun for him and helpful to me because I don’t have to worry about picking stuff out that Morning or getting him dressed!!!
My girls would love this one for sure!
My tip would be to talk about school weeks in advance to help prepare the kids.
My three kids all get out their outfits out the night before. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
This is very specific to our kid’s morning temperament but getting an alarm clock has made our AMs more civil. Our daughter often grouches at the person who wakes her, so this summer we got her a Moonbeam clock from LL Bean and she likes getting her first rousing from the alarm & blinking lights.
Later we check in to get her moving but she likes having her own little window of half-awake time, which puts everyone in a better mood.
Team work! We each have responsibilities to get ready for school. Big brother wakes up little sister, usuallly by bringing in the puppy to giver her kisses. He helps her get her teeth brushed. Mom dresses daughter, daddy dresses son. Mom does both kids’ hair while dad packs all the lunches. We try to do as much as we can the night before like pack up backpacks, prepare snacks and pick out clothes. After a few days we are like a well oiled machine…most of the time!
I keep a drawer of all the school supplies. I stock up when they are on sale and this way everything is in one place where it is easy to find.
I buy the large, economical bags of lunch snacks. On the weekend I bag everything up in individual snack sized bags so the kids can just grab what they need for lunches.
Now that the kids are back to school, they are getting invited to lots of birthday parties. I like to buy of toys on clearance (especially after the holidays) and put them under my bed. When one of my children get invited to a birthday party, they get to “shop” under my bed for a present for their friend. This saves me lots of money and time.
My back to school tip is to freeze juice boxes and they become usable, disposable ice packs for lunches. I also buy lunchboxes, backpacks and school supplies for next year at the end of the NEW School Supply sales. This year I picked up 3 lunchboxes at $1.50 each from Wal-mart! I know what my kids like and pick up items in their favorite themes.
Getting to school on time is our biggest challenge. I bought an app for my iPhone that does a countdown every few minutes. It will announce “10 minutes”, “5 minutes” and “2 minutes”. I put it in a place everyone can hear. Now they know how much time they have left before we leave for school and I don’t have to constantly watch the clock.
What a fun giveaway! I just love reading your blog and i can totally relate, I have 4 as well, 8 year old twin girls, a 5 year old boy and my 20 month old baby girl. Things get loud and crazy especially in the morning! I find that putting all the socks in one large basket and only white or black is the easiest thing! Helps so much in the morning rush:-)
I don’t really have a routine but I would love to win this “loot” for an OC Walk to Remember auction that I’m head of.
prep the night before
I make the school lunches the night before and keep them fresh in the fridge. I have my girls pick out their clothes before bed so they can quickly get dressed in the morning. I also keep extra toothbrushes and toothpaste in my glove compartment in case we don’t have time to brush teeth at home in the morning. Crazy, but true.
I include a photo of a fun summer moment or note of support in her lunchbox to let her know I’m thinking of her during school as she adjusts back to school. When she’s nervous about a test, as we walk to school, we sing “don’t worry about a thing; cuz every little thing’s gonna be alright,” by Bob Marley to calm her nerves:)
Oh oh oh what a goodie bag of fun! My kids would love that!
Thank you for a chance at this great giveaway package!
My “sanity savers”:
1) The night before, pre-pack the car with school bags, paperwork, homework, etc.
2) The night before, pre-set empty cereal bowls/spoons/napkins/small air-tight containers (I get mine from Smart & Final) of dry cereal out on the breakfast counter. Also, pre-set small, re-purposed milk bottles (like McDonald’s milk jugs) filled with milk in the frig. They work on their bottle opening skills (fine motor) and pouring-their-own-milk-and-cereal-in-their bowls skills. They become more independent and have a sense of accomplishment and pride!
3) First thing in the morning, the kids know that they need to be dressed and their teeth need be brushed before doing anything else (ie, eating breakfast, playing with their toys, or asking for anything from mommy or daddy, etc.).
Pack everything the night before and have project materials on hand. A couple of poster boards, folders glue sticks and construction paper stores away saves those late night trips to CVS.
My back to school tip: Buy lots of poster board at the beginning of the year, so you won’t have to run to the store each time your child needs one for a project. Thanks for the giveaway!
my tip is buy school stuff when it goes on clearance for the next school year and get everything ready the night before
To save panic in the mornings, we lay out our clothes the night before, as well as pack lunches!
Check to see if your state participates in tax holidays for back-to-school shopping.
My tip is to always read to your child from the time they’re born. As the parent, you are their main teacher for the first four years so its very crucial to teach them the basics. Once they start school, it’ll be easier for them to catch on and they’ll enjoy school a little more. During summer break try to quiz them on things they’ve learned the previous year so you can refresh their minds. Also, ALWAYS speak postively about school. Keep reminding them about the fun things such as making new friends and recess. They’ll be anxious to go back to school.
My tip is to plan ahead that way we dont rush in the morning!
My back to school tip is freeze water bottles for lunches so they have an ice pack and a cold drink.
I love to color
Having the kids on a routine is the KEY to a happy home life for us!
My tip is to do as much as possible the night before-including making lunches and selecting school outfits
I put clothes out the night before so we dont have to go searching in the morning.
jofo120 at yahoo dot com
great giveaway, my tip is make lunches the night before so you’re not rushing around in the morning.
I have a few back to school tips. We like to keep a pretty consistent routine and schedule so the kids know what’s going to happen. Also packing and getting everything ready the night before. I also buy clearance toys for all of the birthday parties. We also don’t watch tv on school nights and spend more time reading and talking together since they are at school all day.
My tip is to lay out clothes for the morning after night time baths. I also have a door hanger iwth my kids names on it and pictures of their morning “chores” on clothespins (get dressed, brush teeth, brush hair, feed dog, etc). After they complete the chore, the move it over to the other side of the hanger…. so I can tell very quickly what still has to be done and by whom.
I would say pack lunches for the week ahead of time.
Pack lunch and pick out clothes the night before.
Invest in an electric pencil sharpener.
Pick me! Pick me!
Tip#1 Get everyone involved in packing snacks and lunches the night before. Not only will you be able to cross it off the list of things to do for the next day, but it’s a teaching moment on good nutrition and good choices.
purchase extra supplies after school starts for the following year. sweepmorey at gmail dot com
I set out the clothing and shoes at the end of the bed, I do bathing and hair the night before so she can just get up, throw clothes on, and eat. I also make grab n go items so she can eat in the car if need be.
Thanks for your tip is really good, and of course if you get used to bathe the children at night! My tip is the weekend I try to have them ready for your clothes week of school, that day I make sets of clothes a week so just take what each day will bring! I have two and so I went out to run as fast
My helpful hint is to get everything together the night before and set up a bedtime routine.
My tip is to take a few seconds while making their lunch and write a little note to your kids. As simple as, Have a great day! or Lunch was made with love. Love, Mom. My kids love to read them and then get home and say ” Thank you for the note Mom, I love you”.
My tip is to pack lunches the night before and leave them in the fridge
I do a lot of clothes and supply shopping at second hand stores
You can find a lot of brand new items for really cheap, as well as barely used items in great condition 
My tip is to have the kids clear out all of their old clothes that don’t fit or they just won’t wear, by paying them a nickle per item. It’s cheap labor and their closet isn’t full of things they won’t wear- but still fit. Now my daughter can pick out her clothes for the week. My son dresses quickly, by choosing his clothes each mornung- but he’s less picky.
one tip is to pack those lunches the night before because mornings are always hectic.
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
Pack lunches and lay out clothes the night before the first day of school to help with the “morning rush”
I have the boys pick out their breakfast the night before so we don’t have the delay in the morning. Also they pick out their snacks and non-perishable lunch items.
We have clothes laid out the night before, lunches are mostly made the night before, and backpacks, etc are packed the night before (and checked that all homework is done and included!). That’s the only way we remotely make it out the door on time in the morning!
I don’t really have any hints but the usuall prepare all that you can the night before. But this prize would be wonderful to entertain the kids during “wind down” time before bed. I love Rose Art.
We home school but I find that having everything set out for the next day is a huge timesaver.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com
Since the temperatures are still high, to keep the water in the bottle cold, I freeze the bottle with water half-filled (never fill it completely, else the bottle could break… remember the science lesson – water expands on cooling
).
Next morning I take the bottle out, fill with some more water and pack it to school. The water remains cold all day.
We have a family meeting on Sundays – we talk about everyone’s schedules, plans, needs and concerns for the week, then make/review the calendar together. We talk about our stuff too and how it all fits together to make the family run, so the kids feel invested in helping us stay on track too!
My tip is to ask the kids to take bath before they sleep the night before. This will save time the next morning.
We have a weeks worth of outfits ready and sorted in a hanging organizer in the closet. All backpacks are packed and ready by the front door for the morning!!!
Put Backpacks and keys by the door the night before so no one forgets and can’t find theirs.
one thing I like to do is pay for my sons lunches for the year so that I dont have to worry about doing it weekly
I set up morning routine schedule that starts after breakfast. He has a timed 15 mins. to get dressed, feed the fish, brush his teeth, sunscreen, and to get on his shoes and hat. If he does I agree to play hockey up to 3 pts. It gets him going to receive his immediate reward.
I make sure everything is ready the night before, no matter how late it gets: lunch made and put in the fridge, backpacks ready and put by
(continued – sorry, computer glitch) ..backpacks ready at door with all paperwork ready, etc. I find it easier to be a little sleepy from being up late than frantic in the morning!
Awesome Giveaway! My back to school tip is to freeze my daughters water bottle the day before so she has cool water throughout the day especially for PE!
i get clothes ready for the next day at bedtime when kids brushing teeth and pack there lunches when they r in bed. Remember to start bedtime hrs 2 weeks before school starts to get adjusted.
My child always asks to stay up later! Plus getting her to read her 20 min. a night has always been a challenge. I had a bright idea. She can now stay up tell 8:30 which is a half hour longer than normal but she has to lay in bed and read. I scored, now she gets what she wants, plus she is reading for 30 mins. IT IS A WIN WIN. Have a wonderful day.
My back to school tip is always be patient with your child and always ask question on how their day went. School is very scarey and this seems to help my kiddos out a lot. ericka082 gmail dot com
I pick out outfits and lay them out the night before. I do pretty much everything the night before so im not rushing like a mad woman in the morning to get the kids out the door.
I pack my son’s bookbag the night before and have his snack and lunchbox ready to go.
I think it’s a good idea to keep a list – or better yet, a dry erase board – that has all the events/activities for the week so everyone knows the comings and goings of family members
jenniferpeaslee at gmail dot com
we have homework boxes, that we keep extra paper, pens, pencils, ect.
get everything ready the night before!
jagar0047 at yahoo dot com
Make sure homework done before tv
we start setting up the rountines two weeks before, visit the school so they remember where to go
Be organized! Have a folder for homework, progress reports, etc.
my tip is to brush their hair while they brush their teeth!
Don’t wait until last minute to buy supplies! Sometimes you won’t find everything you need because other people cleaned out the stores before you had a chance.
We have a list of things to do to get ready for school, it helps them keep on track and ready quicker
I buy healthy snacks like grapes or canalope or celery or apple sauce (put in a bag with a spoon) and put them in snack bags for the week so she can grab and go in the morning! Also I have a problem getting my daughter to eat breakfast so I cut up veggies or fruit and put it in a bowl with a lid and grab in on the way out the door and she will eat it in the car! no spoon needed and it gets something yummy in her tummy in time for school!
aritenour1979 at aol,com
Make breakfast sandwiches and freeze them so you can just nuke them in the morning for a quick breakfast before school.
I have dressed my kid in their next day clothes and put them to bed too, lol.
Hang complete outfits on hangers. No looking for clothing – everything for each day is on a different hanger
My tip is to have breakfast planned and backpacks packed the night before and to get up at least 30 minutes prior to your kids to get yourself situated / caffinated before morning craziness starts.
I pack lunches the night before and keep a very complete calendar with events for all 5 family members
Making lists always helps!
Prep everything night before: clothes, lunches, breakfast, school bags
My tip is to have the clothes out and backpacks by the door the night before school
We always plan my daughter’s outfit the night before and I get breakfast ready so it isn’t as hectic in the mornings.
Thank you for the giveaway! We always have our daughter pick out her outfit the night before and get her snacks in her back pack before going to bed. That way when her alarm goes off in the morning she is ready to go.
I get as much ready the night before as I can since I’m not awake for an hour after I get up.
Thanks for the contest.
My back to school tip is to buy a calendar or journal so you can keep track of all of your children’s classes and activities.
Set out clothing, homework and snacks the night before to save time.
Have everything ready to go the night before, from gathering any money needed, signing all papers, homework in the correct folders/notebooks etc and put back into backpacks, lunches made and ready to put in the boxes, shoes found, etc. Oh and #1 around here, make sure the coffee is ready to go when I am.
have everything ready and get the kids in a back to school bedtime and routine about 1 week before school restarts back up
my tip is get as many things together the night before as you can. Running around looking for a jacket or school book is so not fun at 6AM.
We try to get the kids to help us assemble everything we need and look for sales for what we don’t have
My tip: think about every single thing that needs to happen before school. Write each thing on an index card. In the morning, each child will grab his or her index cards and try to get ready on their own.
BTW, order makes a difference. You can’t brush your teeth before breakfast and you can’t wash your face after you’ve applied sunscreen! Put them in the best order, then punch a hole in a corner and put them on a key ring. You can reinforce the holes or use laminated cards.
No more forgetting to brush teeth or missing homework left on the table!
Pack breakfast the night before, set everything out the night before, make sure you get them up with plenty of time to spare in the morning.
everything done the night before that you can and routine!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
get everything ready the night before and make sure all homework is done before bed
The most important thing to keep things running smoothly is a routine. Keeping homework & things that go back to school the next day together, bath time, laying out clothes & packing lunches the night before always helps too.
We have packed schoolbags set by the door the night before, and the clothes picked out and set out the night before to save time.
My back to school tip I placed a small cork board with dry erase board near my front door to write down important reminder messages for the kids. Don’t forget lunch money, turn in extra credit homework… etc..
I try to shop throughout the year for back to school items, instead of just at back to school time.
Great giveaway…thanks. Like many other’s comments, my best tip is doing lunches (I use bento-type boxes for everyone-keeps everything fresher, crispy), clothes, backpacks the night before….otherwise we all go crazy in the morning:)
my tip is to definitely prepare the night before, have clothes laid out and lunches made so there’s less chaos in the morning
Lunches made at night
lay out clothes the night before
Make sure you wake up an extra 10 minutes early eeryday in case of those last minute emergencies!
I get my back to school lists done as soon as possible. I like to start shopping as soon as the lists are published so I do not have to hurry!
i shop the year before when stuff is on sale and try to get my daughters bed time routine started at least a week before school starts
Pack lunch the night before and have clothes picked out.
I make sure we get up with enough time. I have my daughter make her own lunch. Since it’s her choices she is more likely to enjoy her lunch. If I’m pressed for time I ask her to make my lunch as well.
We have a time schedule laid out for the boys. Once that time hits on the clock, they know to finish their task and move to the next…
We have never been later for school (4 years)
ARM THE KIDS WITH HAND SANITIZER.
Buy supplies when they’re on sale before you have to have them!
My mom always took a photo of us standing in the same spot the first day of school. It’s so beautiful to have as an adult and I intend to do the same with my twins!
Great to have this opportunity to be in you prize giveaways. I wasn’t aware you have great give aways so often hope I get considered for one, my tip is to always tell you kids you love them before, when they wake up and before the leave to school. My kids are 7 and 10 yrs old and they just do it out of good habbits. Thank again in your opportunity to win such a fun entertaining raffle prize. Coundnt go wronge.
Paige is the winner. Holla!!