Felix Adebayo
A new school calendar has begun. The frenzy is on and even the pressure has begun to pile up on everybody: the children (students), the teachers and the parents. For the children, it is early rise again as they struggle to get out of bed at dawn and go to sleep early. No more ample TV time and homework are piling up. For the parents, it is time to plan the finances and logistics that will make the school year a beautiful and less stressful successful one. Basically, the first step for the parents in this strategic process is getting for your children the basic items that make schooling effective. These items, no matter the age or class of your child or your budget should include:
1. Backpack:
Go for a sturdy backpack that can withstand the rough handling expected during the school year. Get one that has an even-weight balance with multiple compartments, especially on both sides to hold items, padded back and made of reflective material so your child is more visible dark.
2. Under-wears: singlets, pants, vest, boxers and socks
Get for your child underwear and socks that are of good texture to withstand cold weather, including the rainy and harmattan days. They should also be durable and comfortable. Get at least three pieces of each.
3. Lunch pack and cutlery sets :
Buy for your child, a lunch pack that is moderately sized and made of good materials that are durable and can hold the water bottle, lunch cooler, cutlery and snacks.
Buy a small ‘unbreakable’ food flask, and cutlery set just for school with a water bottle that is tight and would not allow for an easy spill of water.
4. Writing and homework materials
Get the basic writing materials: pencils, ball pens, notebooks, erasers and sharpeners in packs and keep in the house. These are the biggest consumables for the school year. Buying in bulk is sharper and easy for replacement during the year. Even when your child’s school supply the notebook, buy extra in bulk for the housework and study practice at home.
5. A Raincoat and a Sweater
The rains are still here and would definitely give way to the harmattan season so get your child a sweater and a raincoat to prepare him/her for the different cold and wet weather. So if it is drizzling or blowing cold your child is protected from hazardous weather.
6. Your Parent Organizer: Get a diary and files to monitor and record your child’s activities and progress in school the diary is to record important dates, events and appointments. The files to file bills/fees and payments; grades and results, honours and achievements; scripts; and school correspondence/reports and notes.
7. Face masks, tissue paper and Hand Sanitizer
These are essential items as the Covid-19 pandemic is still with us. You need to make sure your child is protected every day when going to school with the facemasks hand sanitiser, and tissues papers. These are consumables so buy them in bulks and packs to save cost and ensure you don’t run out of any during the school year. Each day put an extra mask for your child in his backpack to ensure he/she has a new one if the one he/she left the house with gets lost, cuts or dirty.
