After a long day of learning at school, the first thing any kid wants to do is sit down and focus in on more learning with their homework. As much as parents and teachers may wish this to be a reality, the truth is, homework is usually the last thing on a kid’s mind after school. Instead of fighting the uphill battle of getting your child to do their homework, turn the chore of homework into a rewarding experience with these tips and tricks to take the work out of homework.

Study Buddy
A lot of times, students can feel alone in their study struggles. Bridge the gap between parent and child by sitting down with your child while they are working on their homework. Whether you are helping them solve a math problem or chipping away at some of your own work, simply being there will help your child feel less alone and more motivated to complete their work. You never know, the streak may go both ways and motivate you to get some of your work done too.

If your busy schedule doesn’t allow time for homework, try pairing your child up with another student from their class who can work on homework assignments with them. Speak to teachers, parents, or your child to see if any other students in their class are interested in working with a study partner. Sometimes, a study buddy is all you need to lock in to your laser focus.

Game On
Most students dread homework time simply due to he fact that it is boring. Turn mundane homework into fun with matching, memorization, and speed games. Break out the good old fashioned flash cards and challenge your child to a speed round or play a game of charades with vocabulary words. Help your child memorize formulas and vocab words with pneumonic phrases, jingles, and rhymes. Before you know it, your child will be singing along to the Pythagorean theorem like it’s their favorite song.

Pro tip: We live in the age where technology can do just about anything. Try going online to search for games related to your child’s coursework to help them study without even realizing it. Kahoot! and Quizlet are classic sites that your child might already be familiar with that offer a wide variety of subjects and study games.

Work Hard, Play Hard
When all else fails, bribery is always an option. Motivate your child by offering them a reward for completing their assignments. Offer your child something they simply cannot resist to get them in the ‘work hard, play hard’ spirit. Use small motivators like an extra 30 minutes of TV time or a Friday night ice cream run, or use long term tactics like a trip to their favorite theme park at the end of the school year to reward good grades. The only catch: if they don’t complete their assignments, they don’t get the reward.

Remember, every child is different so it may take some time to find what works to help your child excel. Try out different tactics and switch up the regular routine to keep your kid excited and ready to learn.

By: Jenna Greaves

Can you believe summer break is almost over? I have been trying to soak in every last bit! My baby girl is starting high school and my oldest will be a SENIOR! Where did the time go?

No matter what grade your kids are going into, making the transition to a new school year can be tough. The anxiety of something new can be a lot for some children. Here are things we can do to help before school starts.

• Praying with them every night starting now leading up to the first day. Pray for their teachers and for their friends. Thank God for being with us wherever we go. They will hopefully cling to that prayer when they are at school. 
• Try to find someone that might be in their class this year. Plan a playdate this week. (Maybe their teacher can help). For older kids, a day of fun! Having a familiar face when school starts will help.
• Get them used to a bedtime routine now before school starts. There will be a lot of change in the coming weeks. Getting them accustomed to a good night’s sleep will be helpful for everyone.
• Plan regular emotional check ups with them! For some kids, it’s tough to even explain that they are feeling anxious. Ask questions and give them a safe place to answer. Some kids have a tougher time the second or third week so keep checking in! 

As for us, the new school year comes with an array of emotions! Getting everything done is stressful! Take a deep breath! You aren’t alone in this journey. Many of us are scrambling this time of year.

• Get your lists together and prioritize what’s most important.
• Talk to others who have kids in the same school (or are also homeschooling) and are going through the same thing. Help each other!
• Try to attend the orientations. It may help you feel more prepared and hopefully you can make a friend there too. 
• Stay connected to others during the school year. (This one is hard for me.) It really does make a difference when things get stressful later. 
• Create new healthy habits for yourself with the start of the new school year. Going to bed earlier, starting a new devotion, exercising more, etc. 
• Most importantly, don’t miss this moment in time because of stress! Have fun with your kids. Be intentional in how you spend your time. Put the phones away. You will never regret the moments you took to play games, go for walks, listen to them talk, or just being together. 

Every school year looks different, but we can trust that God is the same. He is in control! Let’s start this school year bringing our fears, stress, and anxieties to Him!

I’m in this with you! The Z will be here for your family on the way to school, while the kids are in school, on their way home, and even while they are trying to fall asleep at night, with encouraging music and reminders that God is for you!

I love you and am praying for you too! – Tyler

Lunchtime. Other than the last bell, it is the most highly anticipated time of the day. As kids sit in idly class, they count down the hours, minutes, and seconds until their lunchtime freedom. Help your child make the most out of lunchtime by trying out new, creative lunchbox snacks. Incorporate ingredients that will increase your child’s memory, focus, and energy to maximize their learning abilities.

Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheels are a classic lunchbox find that take minimal effort to make. Pair this protein packed meal with a side of fresh fruit or veggies.

Ingredients: Turkey or deli meat of your choice, tortillas, and cheddar chees slices or cheese of your choice.
Directions: Spread thin, even layers of deli meat and cheese on a tortilla. Tightly roll the tortilla, incorporating all of the ingredients in the roll-up.

Pizza Sandwich
There’s not many things that kids love more than pizza. Turn their favorite meal into a convenient lunchbox snack with this pizza sandwich. This meal is packed with protein and is a great way to sneak veggies into your child’s diet without them knowing. Try adding in spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrients.

Ingredients: Bread slices, tomato sauce, grated or sliced mozzarella cheese, butter, oregano, chili flakes, chopped tomato and onion.
Directions: Heat butter in a pan over medium heat. Spread sauce on bread and sprinkle with cheese, oregano, chili flakes, chopped tomato and onion. Fold bread into a sandwich and place in pan to toast until golden brown.

Fruit Kabobs
This snack is sure to satisfy any child’s sweet tooth. Select an array of all your child’s favorite fruits but be sure to include blueberries which are known to improve memory to make your child a vocabulary genius. Fruits contain a load of vitamins and nutrients that are essential for a child’s health. Leave your child’s teacher stunned by their memorization skills by packing their lunch with blueberries which also act as a great antioxidant. Pair this snack with a side of nuts or sunflower seeds to further increase your child’s focus abilities.

Ingredients: A selection of your child’s favorite fruits and toothpicks or mini skewers.
Directions: Chop fruits into small, bite-sized pieces and run the toothpicks or mini skewers through the center of them. Repeat this step for each fruit.

Lunchbox Tacos
Convince your child to make their own lunch with this interactive meal. Pack your child’s favorite toppings in mini containers with tortillas so they can create their own tacos. Try including fresh guacamole or avocado slices to boost your child’s energy so they can take on the second half of the day.

Ingredients: Tortillas, shredded chicken, shredded Mexican cheese, and guacamole.
Directions: Pack toppings and tortillas into separate mini containers and place in lunchbox.

Mac n Cheese Muffins
Mac n cheese is a dish that kids simply cannot resist. Try this creative spin on the classic dish to make sure your child gets all of the protein they need to conquer the day.

Ingredients: two cups made and cooled boxed mac n cheese, two beaten large eggs, one cup diced ham, and 1/4 cup bread crumbs.
Directions: Combine ingredients and fill eight greased muffin tins with mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

By: Jenna Greaves

In Florida, it takes a lot more than just books to survive the day at school. Make sure your child is well equipped to take on any challenge thrown their way this school year with these beyond books backpack essentials.

Stay Clean
Ward off germs and prevent your child missing school due to sick days. Send your child off with hand sanitizer to use before eating and after playing outside. When they find themselves in sticky situations, equip them with wet wipes so they can clean up with no worries. When runny noses inevitably appear, make sure they are well prepared with mini packs of tissues. To keep things organized in your child’s backpack, designate a specific pocket for their cleaning supplies or fill a small, easy to find pouch with the items.

Beat the Heat
While summer may be winding down for back-to-school season, the Florida sun will always be shining. Protect your child from the elements by making sure they have sunscreen to reapply throughout the day. Remind them to use it before they hit the playground or head outside for P.E. Along with protecting your child’s skin, make sure they stay hydrated with a handy refillable water bottle. Try providing your child with an insulated bottle to keep their water cold all day. For kid’s with long hair, hair ties are another essential item to beat the heat. Slide a few hair ties into your child’s bag so they can easily pin up their hair when the heat starts to swelter.

Rainy Daze
Other than its heat, Florida is notoriously known for its afternoon showers. When the rain starts to pour, help your child be ready to brave the storm with an easy to use compact umbrella or poncho. Also give your child a small plastic bag for them to store their wet gear when the sun comes back up. Another essential item that your child will thank you for is unusual but extremely necessary. Be sure to pack an extra pair of socks in your child’s bag so they can enjoy the highs of playing in puddles without having to deal with the consequence of sitting in soggy socks for the rest of the day.

Time flies when you’re having fun! Back-to-school season is just around the corner and it’s time to start packing lunches and buying books. As soon as you got used to having the little ones at home for the summer, it’s time to send them back to school. After a months of adjusting to your child’s new schedule, you may have lost your groove. Slip back into your school routine easily with these tips and tricks to make the summer to school transition seamless.

Review and Refresh
After a few months at home, chances are your child has completely forgotten everything they learned in the previous year. Help refresh your child’s memory by playing review games with them so they are prepared to take on the new year. To brush up on foundational vocabulary, play classic games like charades, Pictionary, or hangman. To review math problems and formulas, challenge your child to a times table speed round or look up some online games for them to play. Most importantly, if your child has summer reading assignments, check on their progress to make sure everything is complete by the beginning of the school year.

Recharge
The hardest part of a busy day is actually starting it. As the school season begins again suddenly wake up time moves from noon to 7 a.m., rolling out of bed may be harder than usual. To avoid slow starts to your first few back-to-school days, prepare in advance for the early mornings. Instead of hitting snooze, start your child’s school bedtime and wake up routine one to two weeks before school starts to get them back into the swing of things.

Game Plan
Before hitting the road, it is essential to check both the weather and the traffic. Plan out the fastest route to get your kids to school and yourself to work by tuning your car radio to 88.3 or turning up your Z88.3 app and listen out for traffic alerts on local roads. Also, follow @Z883FM on X for daily weather updates to stay informed about any lingering summer storms that may come your way.

Schedule it Out
To-do lists and calendars are essential for keeping track of all the chaos that comes with raising a family. Try implementing a family planner that everyone can write on to make sure tasks don’t overlap. This way, you can make time for both your hectic schedule and your child’s schedule without the uncertainty of whether or not you’ll be able to get it all done. Go high-tech and download a group calendar app like Time Tree or stick to good old fashioned pen and paper. As you go through your day, check off all of your accomplishments one by one until your schedule is finally clear.

Inspire Success
After spending so much time at home, it may be difficult to cut the tether between you and your child, even if it is only for a few school hours. While parents may struggle with watching their child walk away and into the classroom, the exciting process can be just as scary for the child. To ease your child’s first day jitters, allow them to take a small comforting item with them to help carry them through the day. As an added measure to help your child feel even more comforted, tuck a note with a silly joke or a few encouraging words reminding them of how much you love them and how proud of them you are. This simple gesture can provide the right amount of motivation to get your child through the second half of the school
day.

By: Jenna Greaves