August 2009

Together Time Activity: Creating Love Coupons; August 31, 2009

by dlcasas on August 31, 2009

Eliana with Love Coupons 8-31-09

Eliana with Love Coupons 8-31-09

TOGETHER TIME ACTIVITY: CREATING LOVE COUPONS
Have fun creating “Love Coupons” for your kids. Give them the coupons as rewards for a job well done or just because you love them. Using 3X5 index cards, create a series. Be sure to decorate with simple pictures, cut outs from magazines, or stickers. Here are some ideas:

This coupon is good for…

* Staying up an hour past your bedtime.
* Choosing the radio station or CD in the car the next time we’re on a trip.
* Your choice of a favorite meal (pizza, spaghetti, fried chicken, PB&J sandwiches, pancakes, whatever you like)
* You and I baking a batch of your favorite cookies together.
* A family slumber party. We’ll camp out on the floor in the living room watching your favorite movies.
* Your choice of the game on Family Game Night.
* A trip to the ice cream parlor for you and two of your friends.
* A trip to the bookstore for a new book or family game.
* An “Unbirthday” Cake, complete with candles… You can even make a wish!
* A night of stargazing with me. We’ll lay in the backyard and identify the constellations (on a clear night).
* Ooey, gooey, S’mores roasted over the barbecue pit.
* A $5 treat at the store (no candy or junk food).
* A homemade ice cream sundae with chocolate syrup, whipped cream AND sprinkles!
* A tea or cookie party with your favorite friends (stuffed animals or 2 real friends). I’ll bring the tea and/or cookies.
* A treasure or scavenger hunt with a cool prize. The whole family will join you.
* A picnic at the park. I’ll make the sandwiches.
* A day at the roller rink. I’ll even attempt to skate!
* A watercolor painting session. You and I will create marvelous masterpieces.
* A reading of an extra book at bedtime. I’ll even make all the character sounds. Roar!

I could go on and on. The list is as limitless as your imagination! Put the cards in a paper bag and let your child pick one randomly. Don’t wait for a special occasion either. Surprise your children just because you love them and want to spend “Together Time” with them!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friend me!
 http://www.facebook.com/diannedelascasas
Fan me!
http://www.facebook.com/fanofdianne
Follow me!
http://www.twitter.com/storyconnection

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Together Time Recipe: Popcorn Pancakes! August 30, 2009

by dlcasas on August 30, 2009

8-30-09 Popcorn pancakes with homemade blueberry syrup

8-30-09 Popcorn pancakes with homemade blueberry syrup

Eliana and I made some delicious popcorn pancakes for breakfast this morning using microwave white popcorn by Orville Redenbacher. The process was fun and yielded fluffy buttery pancakes. We topped ours with homemade blueberry syrup (frozen fresh blueberries & honey, reduced to a syrup).

8-30-09 Eliana grinds popcorn into flour

8-30-09 Eliana grinds popcorn into flour

Popcorn Pancakes

Ingredients:
4 cups of finely ground popcorn (about 1 1/2 bags of microwave popcorn)
4 eggs
1 c. skim milk
3 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. Splenda
2 tsp. pure vanilla

Directions:
First, pop two bags of light microwave popcorn. Using a high power food processor, grind the popcorn into a fine flour. The flour will be very light. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Making sure the batter stays mixed, spoon 1/4 c. of the batter onto a non-stick skillet or griddle on low to medium heat, coated with olive oil spray. Cook as you would a normal pancake, flipping when the batter bubbles and solidifies slightly. The pancakes should be golden brown on both sides. Yields 8-10 small pancakes. Eat and enjoy!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Facebook “Fan of Dianne” Friday Fanfare; August 28, 2009

by dlcasas on August 29, 2009

Dianne de Las Casas Siging the Cajun Cornbread Boy

Dianne de Las Casas Siging the Cajun Cornbread Boy

Friday Fanfare
August 28, 2009

Note from Dianne:
Friends, thank you so much for being a “Fan of Dianne!” I now have over 370 fans. Thank you so much for your support. I <3 U!

Each Friday, you will receive a short update (Friday Fanfare) letting you know what’s new on the Fan Page. I want “Fan of Dianne” to be a place where you can get cool ideas, interact with me, and have fun! If you REALLY love me, you can sign up for SMS updates. This means that when content is updated on “Fan of Dianne,” you will receive a text message on your phone.

I look forward to hearing from you! Laissez les bon livres rouler! Let the good books roll! – Dianne de Las Casas

What’s New?!
* Listings of all of Dianne’s upcoming book signings on the Wall and on the calendar
* Link to a new article “10 Reasons to Get Social on the Web for Your Biz”
* Dianne has a new Blog Talk Radio show called “Together Time, creative ideas for grown-ups and kids to spend time… together.” You can listen to the last episode and find out about new episodes!
* Read all about Dianne & Marita’s book signing at the Baton Rouge Citiplace Barnes & Noble. Tons of people. Tons of fun!

Get in the Spirit!
Tell your friends about “Fan of Dianne” and encourage them to join the party! Send this link – http://www.facebook.com/fanofdianne There is also a new fan box on Dianne’s regular Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/diannedelascasas so people can get to the fan page from there too!

Got a picture with Dianne? Or a cool picture reading one of Dianne’s books? Post it to the wall. You can post videos too!

Cheers for Dianne’s Fans:
Hip Hip Hooray! for:
* Deanna Cantin for asking Dianne to be the speaker for the Northshore Reading Council Spring Dinner 2010.
* Fe Del Rosario for asking Dianne to return to her school in Lancaster, California
* Suzanne Dorsey for her wonderful compliments! “I can’t wait for you to come back to Strehle this new school year. You are our favorite. I played your C.D. the first day of school for my new 2nd grade class.”
* Limin Mo for posting to Dianne’s wall.
* Dianne’s new fans – over 100 since last week! You are FANtastic!

Meet & Greet!
You can find out where Dianne is signing books by checking the calendar. Purchase a book and get a signed reading poster!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Article: 5 Tips on How to Use Your Facebook Fan Page Effectively; August 28, 2009

by dlcasas on August 28, 2009

Dianne de Las Casas with Fans

Dianne de Las Casas with Fans

5 Tips on How to Use Your Facebook Fan Page Effectively
By Dianne de Las Casas

If you are a business or a celebrity (author, artist, musician, or performing artist), you can open a “Fan Page” on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?pages According to Facebook, a fan page can be used to “create a presence that looks and behaves like user profiles to connect and engage with your customers and amplify your voice to their friends.” In other words, it’s a professional way to connect with your customers or audience, and send your message.

Once you have established your fan page, here are some tips to help you use your fan page effectively.

1. Grow Your Fans and Interact - Invite your existing friends from your personal profile to become fans. Ask them to spread the word by telling their friends about your fan page. If you are on Twitter, tweet about your page and ask people to join. You can also put a “fan box” on your personal Facebook profile advertising your fan page. Encourage fans to post to your page, creating interaction. Answer fans’ posts to show you care and that you want to stay connected.

2. Claim Your Name – When you reach 100 fans, you can “claim your name.” Instead of a bunch of numbers and letters appearing in the URL, you will have a dedicated URL like this: http://www.facebook.com/fanofdianne You can claim your name here http://www.facebook.com/username/

3. Post Items – Post items on your wall that are related to your business. You can feed your business’ blog into the page, upload pictures and videos, and show customer testimonials. You can also use the events calendar to post upcoming events for your business.

4. Send Updates – Send out regular updates, letting your fans know what is new on the page. Be careful not to overwhelm people with too many updates – this can be quite annoying. I send out a once a week updates, on Fridays, letting my fans know what is new on my page and reminding them to participate.

5. Utilize Feeds – Link your fan page to your friend feed. Whenever you post something new, it will feed into your fans’ friend feed. You can also link the fan page to your Twitter account. Any time you post something new or add an event, it is automatically tweeted on your account.

Creating a Facebook Fan Page is a great way to connect with your customers and fan base. It allows your fans to have a more personal connection with you, which allows your brand to grow.

Want to connect with Dianne?

Friend Me!
http://www.facebook.com/diannedelascasas

Fan Me!
http://www.facebook.com/fanofdianne

Follow Me!
http://www.twitter.com/storyconnection

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Article: 10 Reasons to Get Social on the Web for Your Biz – Tuesday, August 25, 2009

by dlcasas on August 25, 2009

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10 Reasons to Get “Social” on the Web for Your Biz
By Dianne de Las Casas

What if you were invited to the largest party in the world for your industry? Entrance to this party is free and all the key players in your field are attending. You would have the opportunity to meet, greet and make valuable connections. Would you go? Chances are; you would.

Here’s the good news. You can do this every day on the World Wide Web through social networking. You’ve probably heard all the rage about Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and other social media sites. If you are looking to boost your biz, here are 10 reasons why you should start getting “social.”

1. Brand Yourself – Branding is very important for anyone in business. When you are “branded,” this means that you have created a particular image that people come to know and trust. Through social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, you can get your brand in the spotlight.

2. Develop a Following – When people like you, you develop a following. On Facebook and MySpace, people “friend” you. On Twitter, people “follow” you. On LinkedIn, you connect by giving and receiving recommendations. You can even create an interactive page on Facebook, where people become “fans.” NBA basketball player Shaquille O’Neal uses the power of Twitter to meet up with fans from around the country, continually building his “brand” and his following.

3. Network – When you become an active participant in these online social forums, you are creating valuable connections. You never know when the next connection will lead to an opportunity to help your business grow. Through these connections, you build relationships. People do business with people they know.

4. Find Out Who the Key Players Are – Every industry has its “superstars.” Find out who the key players in your industry are. Through normal channels, you may not have the opportunity to actually talk to the big gurus in your field (you just hear them at conferences or see them in the media). But through social media, many times, you can actually personally connect and converse with them.

5. Conduct Business – Yes, it’s possible to actually conduct business through social media channels. I have scheduled media interviews, booked author visits, and even scheduled a book launch party all through the power of social networking.

6. Spotlight Your Message/Cause – Do you care about the environment? Are you interested in national health policy issues? Do you want people to notice the growing poverty in America? Through social networking, you can help make a difference by connecting with like-minded individuals who support the causes you do.

7. Engage in Professional Growth – There are so many experts delivering their messages on social media channels. Through the articles and resources they post, tweet and recommend, you can engage in meaningful professional growth.

8. Keep Up with Trends – The latest trends, topics and current events are being discussed through social media channels. Often, breaking news is leaked through Twitter before mainstream media reports it. Be in the “know” now!

9. Become an Expert – If you have expertise in a certain field, perhaps only a handful of people in your industry know it. Through social media, you can actively participate in conversations, dispense your knowledge, and quickly become labeled as an “expert,” giving you a much wider audience. This, of course, can lead to new opportunities.

10. It’s Fun! – If you are a “people” person, becoming “social” on the web is just another way to connect with people. You can make new friends and even gain an extra laugh or two every day. So what are you waiting for? Join us. Mingle. We’re waiting for YOU!

A Few Social Media Sites
* Facebook – http://www.facebook.com
* Hubpages – http://www.hubpages.com
* LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com
* MySpace – http://www.myspace.com
* Ning – http://www.ning.com
* Plaxo – http://www.plaxo.com
* Tagged – http://www.tagged.com
* Twitter – http://www.twitter.com

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Dianne de Las Casas
Friend me! Facebook –
http://www.facebook.com/diannedelascasas
Fan me! Facebook Fan Page –
http://www.facebook.com/fanofdianne
Follow me! Twitter –
http://www.twitter.com/storyconnection

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Together Time: 20 Family Story Starters

by dlcasas on August 23, 2009

Family Story Starters

Family Story Starters

Together Time: 20 Family Story Starters
By Dianne de Las Casas

Children love hearing stories about their parents’ and grandparent’s childhoods. It is a great way to connect with your children and create “Together Time.” Having a hard time mining those childhood memories? Try these story starters, for starters!

1. The most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me as a child was..

2. The funniest thing that ever happened to me as a child was…

3. Do you want to hear a story of adventure? When I was a kid, I used to…

4. The scariest moment I ever had as a child was when…

5. See this scar? You’ll never believe how I got it…

6. My favorite place to visit as a kid was _______. Let me tell you about it…

7. You’ll never believe this but when I was a kid, I was quite a trickster. Once, I…

8. I remember the first time I lost my tooth (learned how to ride a bike, got my first shot, any childhood “firsts”).

9. As a child, my favorite pet in the whole world was ________. He was the best ________ ever! We used to…

10. When I was in ________ grade. My best friend was ___________. We did everything together. Once…

11. My favorite teacher was __________. In her class, we…

12. You want to hear a story about your aunt/uncle? He/she used to get into so much trouble! Once…

13. One of my favorite memories as a kid was when my team won the ________ game! It all started when…

14. When I was a kid, I could never go anywhere without (favorite toy or blanket). One time…

15. When I was a kid, I won a (spelling bee, achievement award, essay contest, etc.). I couldn’t believe it…

16. When we were little, my family used to go camping. Once…

17. My favorite holiday was when…

18. You want to learn a game? When we were kids, we used to play… (Tell the story and follow-up by teaching a childhood game: hand rhyme, jump rope rhyme, jacks, marbles, Chinese jump rope, outdoor game, paper fortune teller, etc.).

19. My favorite cartoon as a kid was ________. I love watching it because…

20. My favorite book/story as a child was _________. It was a story about…

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Signing: The Cajun Cornbread Boy at Barnes & Noble in Baton Rouge – Saturday, August 22, 2009

by dlcasas on August 23, 2009

8-22-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Marita Gentry signing books

8-22-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Marita Gentry signing books

Friends:

After moving my 19 year old daughter, Soleil, into her dorm room at LSU (where I had to take a shower in her dorm bathroom!), we headed to Barnes & Noble Citiplace, where I had a book signing with Marita Gentry, my illustrator for The Cajun Cornbread Boy. We were part of a big event called “One Book, One Community.” Check out this big book!

8-22-09 Dianne & The Book

8-22-09 Dianne & The Book

And here is The Book’s (ahem) backside. hahaha

8-22-09 The Book's backside

8-22-09 The Book's backside

Our time began with revved-up storytelling (by me) and live illustration by Marita. It was fun and interactive. The kids AND the grown-ups had a marvelous time.

8-22-09 Dianne telling & Marita drawing

8-22-09 Dianne telling & Marita drawing

Here is a closeup of one of Marita’s uber cool drawings! Thank you to Eliana, my 9 year old daughter and resident photographer!

8-22-09 Marita's alligator

8-22-09 Marita's alligator

After our presentation, it was time to sign books. We had quite a crowd and sold quite a few books (there were only 7 left at the end).

8-22-09 Dianne & Marita signing books after their presentation

8-22-09 Dianne & Marita signing books after their presentation

Marita and I have the absolute cutest fans! Look at Lila Rae!

8-22-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Lila Rae

8-22-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Lila Rae

We had a fantastic time and can’t wait until our next book signing together, which will be the book launch party of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach at Octavia Books in New Orleans on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 1:30-3:30pm. We hope to see you there!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Soleil Moves Back into the LSU Dorm – Saturday, August 22, 2009

by dlcasas on August 22, 2009

8-22-09 Overlooking the lake

8-22-09 Overlooking the lake

Friends:

My 19 year old daughter moved back into the LSU dorms today. This dorm is significantly better than last year’s dorm, which was a barracks. Soleil was on the 3rd floor with no elevator and no lobby! This year, there is a lobby and it is spacious, with plenty of table for eating and studying. There is also an elevator, which made loading in so much easier. The dorms overlook a beautiful lake and is next door to the best dining hall (designed like a restaurant) on campus.

8-22-09 The lobby

8-22-09 The lobby

By default, I was given the job of organization. My mom brought my brother’s three girls and, along with Eliana and my hubby, helped unload the vehicles stuffed with Soleil’s belongings.

8-22-09 Nana and the girls

8-22-09 Nana and the girls

This room is also significantly better than last year’s room, with only one other roommate (she had two last year). While the room itself is smaller, there is plenty of deep, built-in storage. Soleil has one and a half closets and I took advantage of these closets by first creating a pantry in the half closet.

8-22-09 Pantry

8-22-09 Pantry

The other closet was organized and turned into clothes storage.

8-22-09 Clothes closet

8-22-09 Clothes closet

She has a shared desk area. It is long desk with two chairs and 2 shelves above. We decorated our side. :)

8-22-09 The desk

8-22-09 The desk

There wasn’t much room for the refrigerator so we had to place it in the corner behind the desk. It’s Soleil’s kitchenette center.

8-22-09 Kitchenette Center

8-22-09 Kitchenette Center

Finally, we come to the bed area. The extra long twin had plenty of underbed storage. I used this to store 4 large Rubbermaid tubs (three empty and one full of shoes) so there is plenty of room for growth. On the other side of the wall behind Soleil’s bed is the desk. We used last year’s color scheme – hot pink, black and white. It came out so cute. Command Strips and Command Strips hooks were used to affix the wall art. (Yes, she loves Marilyn.)

8-22-09 Soleil's bed

8-22-09 Soleil's bed

So that’s it. We survived last year, which was her first year in the dorms. This year is already going to be better (her room is right by the hall bathroom, which sports a nice size shower area and multiple sinks). Go Tigers and Go Soleil!

7-25-09 Soleil & Eliana in Cancun

7-25-09 Soleil & Eliana in Cancun

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Thank you! I am blessed… Wednesday, August 19, 2009

by dlcasas on August 19, 2009

Tangipahoa Parish Free Fair, October 2008

Dianne with sweet fans at the Tangipahoa Parish Free Fair, Franklin, Louisiana - October 2008

Friends,

Today I worked on updating my website, adding testimonials and reviews to my “Rave Reviews” section. Looking at all these wonderful quotes from fans just makes me realize how very blessed I am! It brought tears to my eyes to see how much my work affects people. So I wanted to say “thank you for loving me!” My Facebook fan page is now over 200 and I am connecting with friends around the world. Here are some reviews and testimonials that people have been kind enough to write! I am truly grateful!

“Dianne de Las Casas mixes humor, high spirits, lively narration and a colorful setting to bring alive the timeless tale of The Gingerbread Boy. When a lonely old woman decides to cook up a cornbread boy in her magic skillet, her too-generous use of cayenne pepper in the batter brings about unexpected results and sets the stage for this droll, Cajun-spiced retelling. The author mixes her storyteller’s ear for concise, vivid description; rhythmic language; and exciting pacing, with tasty dollops of humor, as she recounts the cornbread boy’s meetings with various woodland creatures who want to gobble him up. This delectable, delightful retelling is accompanied by lively, appealing watercolor illustrations by Marita Gentry that capture the zest of the tale and the distinctive bayou setting.” – Robert D. San Souci, author of The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South and Little Pierre: A Cajun Story from the American South

“Dianne de Las Casas is storytelling phenom and a prolific author. She’s a must have workshop facilitator! I’m looking forward to bringing her back to SEMLS.” – Vickie Beene Beavers, South East Massachusetts Library System

“Hello, Ms. Dianne. My children and I cannot stop talking about your visit to our library here in Gautier, MS (Jackson-George Regional). We really, really enjoyed your show. As I said when you were here, I am a kindergarten assistant and I love new …and fresh ideas. YOU ARE AWESOME! I hope we will get to see you again. Keep up the great work!” – Yolanda Chandler, Mississippi

“Dianne, you are so inspiring! I saw you at South Carolina Associations of School Librarians conference and you were wonderful! My lessons since then have been rejuvenated!” – Kim Riddle, South Carolina

“So, let me tell you that at our Storytelling Event last night as school, I told “The Stubborn Turnip” and “Walter and Wilbur” or at least that’s what I called them! :) My kids and parents loved them, and they thought that I was the stuff because I could do the string tricks. Immediate success in less than a week…what more could you ask? You are the BEST!” – Kitt Lisenby, South Carolina

“Hi Dianne. I attended your presentation at South Carolina Association of School Librarians on storytelling and it was TERRIFIC. I am definitely ordering your books this week.” – Matthew Strickland, South Carolina

“Dianne, I met you at the Mississippi Library Commission Conference. You are fabulous! I told “Santa’s Stuck” to our Christmas kids in Madison last night–they loved it! Thank you for making storytelling so much fun! You are simply THE BEST!” – Liz Turner, Mississippi

“I’m so glad Mississippi Library Commission was able to book you. Since I have seen you, I have already used the quick settle down techniques. I’ve memorized half of them and they work wonderfully. I have also sung the “funky chicken” song with 1st graders. They absolutely LOVED it!!! They had so much fun trying to name more animals for the song.” – Mara Villa, Pearl Public Library

“Hi Dianne! I must tell you that my fourth-graders performed your Turkey Finds Home puppet play for the first-graders this afternoon. They were amazing! We got such tremendous feedback. And to think that I only sent the script home with the students yesterday to practice their lines and today spent most of the day creating puppets and rehearsing. They did an outstanding job! Your script is so easy to produce and the message is uplifting and profound. Thanks for all your inspiration! Have you thought of turning that story into a picture book?” – Susan Coti, Washington, D.C.

“Hi, I attended your workshop at New Jersey Association of School Librarians. Great!! I can’t wait to use some of your ideas. Thanks for a great ending to the conference!” – Barbara Plikaitis, New Jersey

“I look forward to receiving your Story Connection newsletters. I share your stories with all of my friends. My grandchildren especially enjoy hearing your latest story as I retell it in the car on our way to school. Keep it up!” – Cyndy Pruski, Guam

“What fun we had this summer with our programs. Thanks for being part of it and adding your special storytelling magic to the mix!! I love the spoon puppets in your newsletter today. We’re planning to use the idea tomorrow for our last program of the season. Good job, Dianne!!” – Kitty Wood, Iberville Parish Library, Louisiana

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Article: 10 Tips to Make Back-to-School Cool

by dlcasas on August 18, 2009

Eliana on her first day of 4th Grade 2009-2010 school year

Eliana on her first day of 4th Grade 2009-2010 school year

10 TIPS TO MAKE BACK-TO-SCHOOL COOL
By Dianne de Las Casas

On Eliana’s first day of 4th grade, she dashed out the door like Hare but looked more like Tortoise with her backpack strapped to her back like a turtle’s shell. And so, the morning races have begun. Your family is probably no different from our family. Everyone’s in a mad dash to change, eat breakfast, and get to school on time. Here are some tips to ease the transition from summer’s loose schedule to the fall’s regular school routine.

Get into the Groove with Early Bedtimes
The kids have been staying up late and getting up later because it’s summer. But it’s not too early to start readjusting their circadian rhythms to their regular school routines. One week before school starts, implement a strict bedtime. Do “practice runs,” in which the children get up as early as they do for school. This will help their bodies adjust to the back-to-school schedule. There is nothing worse than grouchy, grumpy kids who didn’t get enough sleep!

Pack It Up, Pack It In!
Whether you are organized and ordered pre-packaged school supplies or whether you like to catch those back-to-school sales, have all the school supplies ready to go one week before school starts. Pre-sharpen the pencils. Put all the supplies in one place, fitting as much as you can into your child’s backpack (without overloading them). On the big day, you’ll have everything you need at hand.

Label, Label, Label
Invest a few dollars and purchase a labeler like Dymo. I love my Letra Tag labeler. It beats handwriting your child’s name on every notebook, folder, and binder. With my labeler, I just press “Print” and the label with my child’s name magically appears – 50 times, if I want!

Wash, Iron & Set Out Clothes
If your child wears a uniform, wash and iron all the uniform pieces. Check for missing buttons and make any necessary repairs. If your child wears regular clothes, pick out each day’s outfit and have it ready for the first couple days of school. This will make it easier as your child transitions into the routine.

Lunch & Snacks
No matter what your children’s age, have them prepare or help you prepare lunch and snacks. This will enable them to have a say in what they eat (which means they are more likely to eat it) and give them responsibility by allowing them to pitch in. It’s fun to have Little Debbie’s or Hostess snacks but balance your child’s meals with fruit and veggies too. Plus, you can plan energy-boosting snacks like raisins, granola bars, and peanut butter and celery sticks. I like giving “Surprise Snacks” after school. I put the snack in a pretty paper bag and staple it closed. It’s like getting a present or one of those cool grab bags at the dollar store.

Prepare a Special “Welcome Back” Basket
Make a teacher’s day and send a “Welcome Back-to-School” basket or bag filled with supplies teachers need, cool books, or a gift certificate to an office supply store, book store, or education store. If your budget does not allow a basket, write a “Welcome Back-to-School” note and let the teacher know how much you look forward to working with him/her this school year. This sets the stage for a great teacher-parent relationship and shows your interest in your child’s education.

Picture Perfect First Day
Your child will never have another first day at school in this grade. Take a picture in the morning before everyone dashes out the door. You will love looking back and these first days and seeing how much your child has grown.

Note from You
Tuck a little note into your child’s snack, lunch or backpack. You can say:

* School is cool but you are cooler! Hope you’re enjoying your first day!
* You are a back-to-school super star!
* Happy Back-To-School! I’m proud of you!
* Roses are red. Violets are blue. School is cool and so are you!

Back to School Sign
Make a sign that says “Happy Back-to-School! I love you!” and hang it on the front door. Your kids will love the greeting just before they leave the house for school. What a great way to start the day.

Sweet Surprises – A Spoonful of Kisses
This makes a super sweet surprise for your kids. Take a plastic spoon and draw a funny face on it. Grab a small handful of Hershey Kisses. Place the kisses inside the spoon and wrap a small plastic bag or piece of cellophane around it. Tie a ribbon around and attach a little note: “A Spoonful of Kisses for You on Your First Day of School.” Then reward yourself and eat the rest of the bag. You deserve it. You made it through the first day of school!

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