https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 20:01:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622849 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 15:56:55 +0000 kakimochi 2622849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>google calendar has been our go-to tool, with a preschooler and a 1st grader, and all of our school, activities, appointments, homework and work schedules; we're still striving to get better with it, but I try to update the calendar regularly, and I look at it constantly (between my computer and phone) to make sure we're on top of things. homework starts next week for the 1st grader, so we'll see how that goes. I make it a point to look at the 1st grader's backpack everyday to make sure I'm not missing anything. i'll have to start teaching her how to use the calendar for sure so she can be on top of it as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622831 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 15:11:48 +0000 MamaG 2622831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our school uses binders. In the binder are a couple of folders that are labeled. Also her class management notebook. The notebook has to be signed every day by us. </p> <p>At night when I get home, I look at the binder and take out the papers. I make note of what needs to be done today and what are future action items. Things that require me to take action (like order pictures, fund raiser, etc) go into my work bag and I usually deal with them on my work lunch. Her homework typically gets addressed immediately after dinner. </p> <p>In the morning while she eats breakfast, I sign her notebook and make sure that anything that needs to go back to school with her is in her binder. I then load up her backpack with her binder and water bottle and lunch. She takes lunch about once per week. On the day library books are due back I make sure those are in there too. Or like today she needed money for a fund raiser. I showed her the money, told her which pocket of her backpack it is in and she's on her own.</p> <p>I'm visual when it comes to future dates. I have calendar (three technically) that hangs next to my monitor at work. One is the daycare calendar of their monthly activities (provided by them). Another is the academic calendar from the school district for the year (provided by them) and the third is my calendar. I note dates/activities there. It's at work, but it's within my line of sight all day so it sort of gets committed to memory that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622823 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 14:45:31 +0000 T-Mom 2622823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put all of the kids' lessons, activities, field trips in my google calendar. Then I can see all my work meetings laid on top of my personal commitments on my phone. We check folders as soon as humanly possible after school. My DD also has a planner she's required to use, that I sign every day to show I read it. You get into the routine and sometimes you forget and it's ok ... But your brain kind of does "grow" a new compartment over time :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622714 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 11:36:50 +0000 gingerbebe 2622714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: We are two weeks in to preschool and it's totally an adjustment! Google Calendar on your iPhone seems like the fastest way to organize. Also if you can, you might recommend the teacher use the Remind app. Our preschool uses it to blast info to the parents and coordinate field trips and all that and you can auto add the event to your Google calendar and what not. I love it - even though we still have folders to check, the app acts as a redundancy measure. It seems like it would be easier than printing out papers and stuffing folders and would prefer they go paperless but I realize there are forms that need to be signed.</p> <p>Dollar Tree has really cheap great school supplies for projects - just buy a huge stock of things and keep it at the house for that stuff. We stocked up on party supplies, disposable aluminum cake and casserole pans, and treat bags for school occasions and pot lucks. Literally dipped into that stash the first week of school twice. And they have these awesome dry erase magnetic weekly calendars that go right on our fridge. I keep one for our menu plan and one for our son's lunches but they can be used for anything.</p> <p>I look at my son's folder at school and check for things that need my signature or money. I keep a checkbook and pen in my wallet and just sign and cut checks for things right then. Then we walk out of the school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622699 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 11:26:20 +0000 looch 2622699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: It all comes down to what you can handle and I think different things work for different families.</p> <p>keep us posted, and let us know if you come up with any good hacks, can always use 'em! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622677 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 10:56:29 +0000 regberadaisy 2622677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: the "homework" really isn't bad. It comes home Monday and goes back Friday. And they reinforce what they are working on at school. I like it because it keeps us informed.</p> <p>@808love: that's not a half bad idea. Thanks for the encouragement! It's all about finding our new normal, right?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622643 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 10:17:03 +0000 looch 2622643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: honestly, if the homework is too much, I would approach the teacher about it and ask if it can be assigned so that you have time to complete it over the weekend, or just not do it.</p> <p>And there's also no time on the weekend to go to the store to get that stuff either! I am all about the path of least resistance, and right now that is amazon.</p> <p>I get the point of it, but trust me, it's not going to happen at the expense of what little family time we have during the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622642 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 10:15:36 +0000 808love 2622642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Yes! I get it. Maybe you could have it by the bar like you said. Looking through things can be the closing part of dinner. They say if you attach new habit to a current habit (dinner or brushing teeth) you are more likely to remember it. Don't have to be so hard on yourself. Change comes with growing pains and there is a lot to adjust to. You will have this down pat!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622635 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 10:09:13 +0000 regberadaisy 2622635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: the thought of homework puts me into hives. Lol we get home at 5 right now and both girls are starving even after a snack. It's a mad rush to get dinner on the table. I think we just need to get into a routine of checking her backpack as we get home. Or bringing it up to the kitchen on the breakfast bar do we don't forget to after dinner. </p> <p>I need to go down to PT! LOL</p> <p>@looch: Stocking up on supplies is such a great idea. We both work full time and there is just zero time during the week to go shop for stuff like that!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622613 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 09:48:05 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2622613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Though the kids are only 4 and 1, DS1 is in pre-K and DS2 is in daycare (thankfully at the same school). They have a calendar they put together for us that we hang on the fridge. We also have a family dry/erase calendar hanging by the pantry where we go every day. I put important things on there so one of us will see it and remember. I also do a shared family calendar with our iPhones and set reminders so that we'll both see when picture day is or when DS1 has baseball class, or even when he has a field trip. We'll put our own appointments on there as well - I travel a bit for work, so I'll have those dates on there to remind DH when he's solo with the boys.</p> <p>I need several places for reminders. I like having calendars all over the place reminding us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622612 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 09:42:41 +0000 808love 2622612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do the same as @Andrea. Check and clean out everything right afterschool during HW routine. Google cal/phone reminder for everything in the future. It helps to talk over dates with LO so he/she can remember too. She has a personal calendar like Looch but only uses it occasionally like for birthday parties and weekend stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622581 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 08:56:28 +0000 looch 2622581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am only half a month in, but what I do is to look at the folder and then pull out the papers that are actionable and take care of those. Papers and stuff I recycle right away, unless it is really special. Other stuff I actually bring to work with me if I have to take care of something. I keep a sleeve of checks in my wallet in case I need to write a check.</p> <p>The only way I think staying organized works for me is to include my son. He has gym on Tuesday, for example, so we have a little calendar in his room so he can look and check. I also basically stocked up on supplies to make posters and all that stuff, so we can literally do it right now if we need to...we have one due at the end of the month. I bought a pack of poster board, washi tape, stickers, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622563 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 08:26:34 +0000 Andrea 2622563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I check the folder as soon as we get home. I give them a snack and then we do any homework they have right away. </p> <p>For things like picture day, I put it into my Google calendar and they send you an agenda every morning. You can also set a notification if you want to be reminded of the event beforehand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/school-aged-kids-schedules#post-2622558 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 08:12:03 +0000 regberadaisy 2622558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Parents of school aged kids:<br /> M started UPK and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with everything we have to keep track of. What's your best advice to stay organized and not forget $hit?!</p> <p>For instance we have a take home folder we have to look at every night. Literally. Or I will miss something. There has been a something about me bag project in there all week and I totally forgot and it's due today. I'm hoping they're not sharing today or I will feel more like shit. Picture day is next Wednesday and I'm so afraid im going to forget! Gah.</p> <p>I think we need a erasable calendar in the kitchen. I have horrible "'mom brain" and can't remember anything without a reminder on my phone.</p> <p>Thanks </p>