Back To School – The Mommy Connections Fave 5!

08/17/2016

Here are some of my favourite local businesses who help make the transition from summer lovin’ to school bells, just a little bit easier.

We all want our children to excel in the classroom. Did you know that 80 per cent of learning comes directly through vision? Children who cannot see the board, focus on a picture or follow words in a book may struggle to achieve their full learning potential. Vision problems can also impact their hand-eye coordination for physical activities and even impact their social development.  One of the many benefits of our Provincial Health Care system is that eye exams are free for kids up to 18 years. Set your child up for success by visiting Owl Optometry in Roncesvalles. A clinic specializing in family exams, they love spending time with their patients offering comprehensive eye care while answering any questions you may have. They are also proud to participate in the Eye See…Eye Learn® program which provides comprehensive eye to junior kindergarten students. If your JK child requires a pair of glasses, they will receive a complimentary pair! Check out Owl Optometry to help your family achieve your best vision, optimal health and personal style!

Are you ready to tackle the lunch box?! Binz is a Bloor West favourite, and has a ton of brand name lunch gear at great prices. Personally I love to be able to touch and feel the items before purchasing. I bring my son with me, and have him try and open and close the items right in the store…a step you can’t do when shopping online. From the time your little one leaves in the morning until lunchtime arrives, you can help keep their lunch cold and fresh with one of their insulated lunch bags & ice packs. Keep them hydrated with their large selection of water bottles from S’Well, Klean Kanteen, Nalgene or Thermos, just to name a few. Don’t forget about snack time! They have a great variety of options to keep your little one satisfied until they arrive back home. The Sistema line is my personal favourite because it is lightweight, easy to open, easy to clean, and durable. If you’re looking to send your little one off to school with a stylish BPA free, litterless lunch kit, then Binz is your store!

Now that you’ve got all of your fabulous gear, you don’t want to lose it! Waterproof, personalized Mabel’s Labels will keep all of your child’s school supplies coming back home at the end of the day! These super durable labels are perfect for backpacks, lunch containers, water bottles, supplies and more. Whether you have a little one going to school for the first time, or an older student with more sophisticated taste, they have labels perfect for students of all ages. My personal favourites are their limited edition Zombie & Notebook designs as well as their Write Away! labels that allow you to write your words – perfect for labeling lunch gear #1, #2 and #3 (That’s “first snack”, “lunch”, and “second snack” for those of you entering Kindergarten!

As the leaves begin to fall, time becomes more precious. You want to spend quality time together as a family, not working away in the kitchen. SupperWorks creates delicious monthly recipes, does the shopping, the washing, the chopping and the clean up so you can prepare tasty, wholesome meals without the time, without the hassle and without the mess! Visit their store and in less than 2 hours you can prepare up to 12 freezable family-sized entrées, each serving 4-6 people. Pop them in your freezer and then when you’re ready to enjoy them just thaw and cook according to the directions provided with every meal. Join us at our monthly Mommy Connections parties where you can make 6 meals for only $90. Our parties feature reduced prices, a 3 entrée minimum (vs the standard 6) and the chance to connect with other time strapped moms! Did I mention there’s also wine involved?!

Do you still have a year to go before the school bell rings for your child? Enrolling them in a drop-off activity (especially if they are used to spending the majority of time with you or a caregiver) can really help prepare them for Kindergarten. A few hours a week will build trust and confidence and re-inforce the message that you always come back. One of our favourite programs is KinderMorning at Charb Arts Studios in Roncesvalles. It takes place Wed and Thursday mornings, and is specifically for 2-4 year olds. This is a great age to introduce your child to dance-play, where he or she can expand their imagination, strengthen their physical, cognitive, socialization skills and develop independence. Mornings begin with action songs designed to engage and inspire movement and dance using props and instruments. After dance class the professional teachers and facilitators bring the children into the art room for snack, and story time. Charb KinderMorning helps your child develop strong gross motor skills and build their confidence in a fun and creative environment.