I know, back to school seems a long way off. But the more you can do now to prepare the easier September will be. And you can enjoy the Summer holidays (or survive the juggle) knowing that everything is in hand. So check out these useful uniform tips to make back to school easier.
1 Do a Stock Take
Now is the time to look at everything you already have. Get rid of the bits that no longer fit, or that didn’t survive meatballs in tomato sauce day. Most schools will take second hand uniforms, or you can put it into storage for younger siblings.
Make a list of what you already have so you don’t duplicate. Don’t forget to make sure their coats still fit.
2 Shop Around For The Best Deals
It’s always worth having a look online to see where the best deals are. The big supermarkets normally offer 20% off at certain times. Check out this handy money saving calendar so you can keep track of where and when the offers are.
3 Buy Early
If you have to purchase certain items from a designated school uniform shop, my recommendation is to buy early. If you are ordering from them online, deliveries can take a while. If you are going into the store to try on, the queues can be very long if you leave it until the end of August. And we all know kids and queues are not fun!
4 Label Label Label
And I mean label. Label everything within an inch of it’s life. Things will go missing, and if there’s no name label, you are going to be spending a lot of time sifting through the jumper dumper!
Thank goodness the days of sew on name labels when I was a kid have gone! Quote My Wall have a fun range of clothes labels ideal for uniforms and school stuff. They are durable, so last and can be put through the washing machine, the tumble dryer and the dishwasher.
The labels are customisable. You can choose from a range of icons, colours and fonts. The icons on the name tags are great for smaller kids who don’t yet recognise their name. You can get stationery and shoe labels too, as well as mixed packs. They are great value.
Just remember to order them in time! And it doesn’t matter how simple they are to apply, don’t leave it until the last minute. Get the job done and come 1st of September you can be smug that you don’t need to do any last minute prep.
5 Book Shoe Fitting
Lots of shoe stores that offer a fitting service now offer a booking service. This can save you lots of time and waiting around trying to keep the kids amused. Get in early and book your slot now, ready for towards the end of the holidays.
6 Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need, But Buy More Than You Think You Need!
Sounds like a contradiction I know! What I mean is if something still fits, don’t replace it. Gone are the days when you could only really buy school uniforms in September. Now it is available throughout the year should your kids have a growth spurt.
If you are replacing uniform, that’s when you need to buy more than you think. From my experience you can never have too many t-shirts. And the last thing you want is to be scrabbling around mid week for uniform because you have run out of clean t-shirts. When it comes to jumpers and skirts or trousers I go by the rule of 3. One on, one in the wash, and one spare (or inevitably in the jumper dumper!)
7 Buy Second Hand
Lots of schools sell second hand uniform, or check out local selling pages. Buying uniforms is expensive, so saving money by purchasing second hand is a great option.
8 Don’t Forget The Extras (and label them)
- School Bag / Book Bag
- Lunchbox
- Water Bottle
- Pencil case (if required)
- Socks / Tights
- PE Kit
9 Parents Kit List
It’s not just the kids that need kitting out. There are a few essential back to school items parents need too.
Planner: Whether you are an old school diary person, or prefer a digital calendar you need somewhere to put all the term dates, inset days, PE days, dress up days. Don’t forget to add reminders for yourself for things like paying dinner money.
Brown cash Envelopes: These are really useful when kids have to take money into school, and are likely to loose loose change. Pop it in a small brown cash envelope with their name on. These can be picked up cheaply from Amazon, and make life easier.
Lunch Menu: Print it out and put it on a notice board and make the kids responsible for checking it. Even better if they can check it on a Sunday night and let you know in advance any days they require a lunchbox that week.
10 Don’t Forget!
If you are new to the school parent game, you are going to need a nit comb. Trust me.
This post is sponsored by Quote My Wall. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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