Seven ways to make school cool

Once the initial rush of back-to-school fades away, it can be tough to keep your child excited about school. But what can a super mom do beyond meeting the teacher and helping with homework? How about adding a healthy dose of fun at home! Take a look at these fun tips for making school cool year-round.

Reawaken curiosity

Next time your child asks you if anteaters really eat ants, find the answer together! You can go on the Web and search for related information or read about it in a book. Nothing sparks the imagination of a child quite like learning.

Let them shop!

Personalizing school supplies and showing off new clothes is part of the fun of September. So involve your kids in shopping trips to get them excited for each day at school. If your child is particularly into arts and crafts, and tends to get messy while doing it, give them a Tide to Go pen so they can tackle stains that come along the way.

Build a homework station

You can help fix the feng shui of your kids' homework station by adding a little touch of creativity. For the surface, put down a bed sheet or fabric table cover to protect the wood and let kids decorate the layer underneath with photos, art, and encouraging notes from you! The good thing is you can always wash the fabric with Tide Liquid and redecorate during the school year.

Create comforting rituals

Kids thrive on rituals, so give them things to look forward to each day: kiss them on each cheek before they leave the car, plan stories to share with their teacher, or tuck a little note inside their lunch box for a moment of happy discovery.

Play up those special talents

Is your child good at painting? Or do they love music? Then take them on a weekend trip to the art museum or a concert. It's never too early to inspire your child's special talents!

Plan play dates with new friends

Listen closely to new names when your child tells stories. You might suggest having new friends over after school for a play date or a party. Supporting these bonds will help kids flourish on the playground.

Remember your school days

What was school like for you? Nothing captivates a kid like stories of their parents growing up. So remind them what was best for you about school. Coming from you, tales of lost homework and school triumphs will be better than any other bedtime story.