Back to School Tips, Plus One Most Important!

Identify. Nurture. Grow.

Coalesce Ministries Blog — Boy with bookbag and Bible

Years ago, I ran a column which included seasonal topics, including one about back-to-school tips. Remembering to label book bags, glasses cases, supplies, and jackets were among the few tips noted by parents, especially those of us who knew, from experience, that it pays to label everything. Children are easily distracted at the end of the day and sometimes they just grab whatever looks like their belongings. Most of the time they only notice color or other familiar features, but if they are taught to look for their name, they will be more apt to stop and pay attention. One can quickly see a need for this by taking a look at the lost and found pile!

It's also common that children come home from school scrounging for food. It usually isn’t due to not being offered meals at school, but by their choosing to talk instead of eating, or due to being picky about the choices. Either or, parents dislike the idea of their child being hungry, but they also want their children to eat their dinner. This other back-to-school tip is a good way to solve both problems. Simply keep healthy snacks on hand or even in the child’s book bag in a separate pouch. Raisins, granola bars, trail-mix, an apple or a banana are just a few of the easily accessible snacks that will give a child the boost they need after school. When my children were younger, I told them that the snack was only for after school and once they were in a place where they were allowed to have it. Not only does this help hunger pangs, but these types of snacks also gave them a healthy boost that did not ruin their appetites before dinner.

Lastly, the most important tip that I have as a mother is covering each life and day in prayer; labeling / identifying who we are in Christ and nurturing the heart, mind, and soul.

When my children were in school, I started their day with a prayer and a song. If we were doing really well with the morning routine, we did this before we left the house. However, if we were a bit rushed, we did this during the morning commute. We thanked God for our many blessings and asked Him to be with us throughout our daily activities and to bring us back together. That is a short version of course but it gives you the idea. After our prayer we sang their favorite song, “This is the Day.” I have deep regrets for not continuing this when they were older … too cool for this, too busy, going separate ways due to work, etc. … My strong advice is always find a way! Adapt to their age but find a way! Of course, I never stopped covering them in prayer, and I never will, even as adults; this is an ever-important call and opportunity, as any parent can attest.

Starting the day with prayer gives children assurance and confidence, and it helps them in any transition.

The Lord blessed us and entrusted us to teach our children about Him and to cover them in prayer. If your children are older now or in a different situation that doesn’t include being with them on a daily, you can still pray for them, and you can share the light of the Lord with others; this can include other children or other adults who influence children.

There is always a way to share prayer and praise, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”