Back to School

Staff Picks: Best Back to School Books from Sourcebooks Kids

August 7, 2019

These top picks from the Put Me In The Story team are sure to get your child’s mind in gear for the start of school! Encourage their curiosity with a story about trying new things and finding the fun in every subject.

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10 Healthy Homework Habits

October 2, 2013

Healthy Homework Habits

It's the start of October. The back-to-school hype has already simmered down, and even though we're still early in the school year, it's time to swing into action with monitoring your child's homework practices.

Establishing healthy homework habits at an early age will help your child build a lifelong stable work ethic. Work habits are constantly evolving for us, even as adults, but the earlier you introduce good homework and learning practices, the easier it will be for your child to concentrate and motivate themselves to continue to excel in school—and anything else they set their mind to. So, how do you help your kids with homework?


10 Tips for Homework Success

  1. Check in. Use family meals or car trips as a time to check in with your child regarding school. Kids can sometimes be reluctant to talk about classes, so try to be enthusiastic and encouraging. Ask questions to get them excited about their school day.

  2. Create a designated study or homework space for your child—somewhere quiet with a desk, ample school supplies, and lots of light or a big window.

  3. Monitor video game, television, and Internet use. If your child is using the Internet for a school assignment, review good Internet practices with your child and make sure that they are only using the computer for homework.

  4. Establish a routine time for homework. Whether it be right after school or right after an extracurricular activity or sport, it's important to get to it as soon as possible! Then your child can play and relax afterward. Be sure to send them off to their desk with a snack.

  5. Encourage your child to do the challenging homework or the most important assignment first. Try to make yourself as available as possible to help or answer any questions (without hovering). It's still important that you allow them to learn things on their own as well, but always be available for questions.

  6. Help ensure that your child understands what an assignment is asking of them. This is also a great way to find out how much they're listening in class, or what subjects they struggle with more than others.

  7. Show your child how to observe and manage their time. For example, write out a list of homework that needs to be completed along with how long your child thinks it will take. Compare at the end. This will be helpful in establishing efficient time management skills.

  8. After your child has completed his or her assignment, see if he or she will teach you any of their competed homework. This lets your child play the role of teacher, and you just might learn something new!

  9. Praise good work. If they got an A, absolutely pin it up on the fridge!

  10. Pay attention to your child's strengths and weaknesses. If they're struggling in certain areas, make sure you are aware and can work to provide the necessary professional assistance your child needs to succeed.

And remember, reading is the gateway to learning, so don't forget to read to your children (or let them read to you) whenever and wherever possible. Healthy readers produce healthy learners!


Find Me If You Can Personalized Book for Two Children

Homework Break!

Find Me If You Can is now available to personalize for two children!

Playing games is fun for all. Whether you are big or small. The perfect family activity after a long homework session, Find Me If You Can is now available to personalize for up to three children. We designed Find Me If You Can for kids with a lot of energy who are eager to play and participate while reading. This fresh take on I-Spy and Where's Waldo? is a one-of-a-kind reading experience that blends reading and playing into one remarkable book.

Personalize Find Me If You Can

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Spruce Up Your Child's Lunch with Our Downloadable Notes!

August 8, 2013

Summer is almost over!

Can you believe that? Summer always goes by so fast and before you know, you are packing lunches and checking homework for your kids. As the new school year begins, you should think about setting aside special time each day for you and your child to read. Even if you only read for 15 or 20 minutes a day, you are encouraging your child to become a lifelong reader.


isabella-notes-small

The best times to read with your child:

• Before bedtime

• During breakfast and dinner

• Riding in the car (your child can read to you)


Fit reading into daily activities:

• Your child can read to you, while you do the dishes

• Read from the morning newspaper over juice and coffee

• Read street signs while driving in the car

• Lunchtime notes (download your free, printable notes below)


You can also show your child reading is fun by doing some reading of your own. Read a magazine, an ebook, or even the newspaper – the more your child sees family members reading for pleasure, the more he or she will want do do so as well.

TIP: Make a fun game out of your child "catching you reading." Create "I caught you reading!" cards and hand them out every time a family member is seen reading. At the end of the week hold a drawing for someone to win a prize.

Spruce up your child's lunch

If you pack a lunch for your child, slip in a little note letting them know how much you love them or give them a laugh with a quick knock-knock joke. No matter what you decide to write, your note encourages your child to read everywhere. They will begin to look forward to reading your notes each day!

Click here to download a full-size version for printing!

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