back to school – TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

August 15, 2022September 6, 2022 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

6 easy tips to prepare kids for back to school season

Back to school time can be stressful for the whole family, especially for the soon-to-be students. We want to help make this transition back to school as seamless as possible, which is why we’re breaking down some tips for sending your kids back to school.

Use these tips and ideas to help ease the back-to-school jitters and make it a fun, positive experience!

Get them familiar with their schedules

Have your kids print out their class schedules ahead of time so they can familiarize themselves with their classes and find out where they will be held. In fact, you could take your kids on a trip to the school to check out where their classes will be. Let your kids know it may be a good idea to send their schedules around to their friends so they can find some class buddies. This will help get them excited about beginning their school year!

Build a routine ahead of the big first day

The adjustment period from summer to school time can be rough, so have your kids practice getting into the school day routine. Getting up a bit earlier and having a set bedtime. Make sure they are using a trustworthy alarm clock, too.

Check out activities throughout the school year

Many kids aren’t too excited about summer ending. As a parent, reminding them of the things to look forward to with a new school year may help get them motivated.

Remind your kids of their favorite classes and teachers. You can also show them what clubs, extracurriculars, or sports the school offers to get them to try new fun things! Get them excited about seeing familiar faces again and how they will have the chance to make new friends.

Take your kids meet their new teachers

It can be scary starting fresh with teachers they may not be familiar with, so set aside time before school starts to introduce them to their teachers. Getting them comfortable beforehand will ensure they feel more inclined to go to their teachers for help.

Plan a school supply shopping trip

This can be a fun process for kids to pick out their own supplies. Get them in the creative spirit by having them pick out fun decorations/designs to add to their folders, notebooks, lockers, etc.

Set aside time to help your kids with homework

Making your home a safe space for your kids to feel comfortable going to you for help with their schoolwork or problems at school is crucial. This way you can readily find solutions and make your kids school experience more pleasant.

Follow these tips to ensure your kids have a smooth transition into the school year!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

August 16, 2021September 7, 2021 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Six tips for sending your kids back to school

-Written by Christina Baker

Some kids are excited about back-to-school time, while others may dread it. Either way, you want your kids to start of the year with their best foot forward. Use these tips to ensure your child has a positive start to their new school year!

Get your kids back into a routine

A week before school starts, try your best to get your family back into a “school routine”. Make sure they’re ready for the early bedtimes and early mornings that are essential for school time. Be sure your alarms are set!

Talk to them about what classes they’re looking forward to

Asking your kids about their favorite subjects will help them to get a little more excited to be back in the classroom. If they don’t have a favorite class, encourage them enter their new school year with an open mindset and willingness to learn about new subjects.

Introduce them to their teachers

Many schools allow you to go meet the teachers and pick up textbooks a couple days before school starts. Use this opportunity to introduce your children to the teachers so they may feel more comfortable with them before school even starts.

Let them pick out fun school supplies

Even if they’re not looking forward to school, more often than not, kids enjoy picking out their new school supplies every year. If your budget allows it, encourage them to pick out their favorite folders, notebooks, and pens. This will give your kids a sense of creative control over their supplies!

Encourage them to join a team/club

If your kids are having an especially hard time looking forward to the new school year, joining a club that interests them or playing a sport they enjoy could help make the adjustment easier. These activities will allow them to make new friends and even discover interests that they may not have known they had!

Keep up with open communication

Keep up with honest discussions between yourself and your children about the day they had at school. If they had a bad day, try and come up with a solution together on how to make the next one better.

The summer to fall transition can be a tricky one, but these tips can help to relieve some of the stress off of both you and your children.

August 26, 2019September 16, 2019 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Top 7 tips for back to school season

-Written by Taylor Hawley

Labor Day is right around the corner, for students all across the country that means it’s almost time to head back to school. Whether this is the first or the last year, starting school can be an exciting, but also daunting time for students.

Here are some tips to help get anyone get back in the groove of school!

Get into a routine – Most typical summer sleep schedules involve staying up late and sleeping in. It can be difficult getting into a routine sleep schedule for school right after a summer full of late nights. Try acclimating to the new sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up earlier a week in advance to make that first day a little bit easier.
Pack the night before – To ensure the first day isn’t starting off on the wrong foot, pack your bags the night before. Whether you need a backpack or a lunch box, having these things prepared before the first day will make the morning run smoothly. This will also eliminate any possibility of forgetting anything important.
Choose a new outfit – Choosing a new outfit to wear on the first day can help make going back to school more exciting. Even if it is only a new shirt, shoes, etc., a new piece to a wardrobe can make the first day feel more special.
Set goals – Before the school year starts, make small goals to achieve. This can consist of good grades, understanding concepts better, or completing projects. Creating a standard can help any student stay on track throughout the year. This also ensures you are making the most out of the school year, as you will be working to accomplish these goals.
Start a planner – If you are someone who needs more of a strict routine when it comes to studying, get a planner and or a large calendar for your room. Start by writing down deadlines, events, and other activities early on. You will build the habit to help you stay on track and make the most of your time throughout the day.
Visit the new classroom – Whether this means taking your child to see their new classroom to meet their teacher or visit a new lecture hall you’ll have a class in that semester, it is beneficial to acclimate to the new learning environment. This will take away some of the first day jitters of not knowing exactly where to go and what to expect.

Organize your time – While preparing to get back to school, start by organizing your schedule early. Figure out where you need to be, when you need to be there, and plan accordingly so you’re not scrambling that first day, or week.

August 20, 2018August 27, 2018 Movers Who Blog Hiring Professional Movers, Home Sweet Home, Moving with kids, Organizing, Our People, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Get prepared for back-to-school season with these fun and easy tips

As we’ve reached the halfway point of August and roll through the last few weeks of summer, that means one thing for the youngsters in your family – it’s back to school time!

Regardless of the age, from elementary school all the way through high school, it’s always a good idea to get prepared for back-to-school time and make sure you’re ready to tackle the upcoming year. This starts with effective planning to set your kiddos up for success, and thankfully for you, we’ve come up with a list to get you off on the right foot.

Whether you’ve used TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s world-class moving services to move to a new community or your kids are returning to the same school again this year, these tips will have your family ready to go on the first day for a successful year of learning!

Get some fresh new clothes

We all remember being a kid – sometimes it’s hard to get excited for the first day of school after such a fun summer. One way to counteract this? Get new clothes!

Take your child shopping and let them find some new shirts, pants, or shoes that catch their eye so they feel confident when they step off the bus for that first day of class.

Stock up on school supplies

An underrated part of back-to-school prep, getting equipped with the proper school supplies can be a fun task, and will get your child in the right mindset for class. From pencils to cool folders, binders, and other things – even locker decorations – many of these supplies will last all year long. Don’t forget a new backpack, too!

A healthy diet can make a difference

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s true! Starting your child’s day off with a proper and nutritious breakfast will get their brain in the right place, and should prepare them to tackle their school load each and every day.

Similarly, having an effective lunch plan can be a crucial factor during the school year. Whether you’re providing them with money to receive hot lunch or you’re packing a healthy lunch from home, having a meal plan in place for each day of the week is important.

Get to know teachers and friends

This may seem minor, but getting to know who your child is interacting with every day will allow you to better understand what they are going through at school, and can also give you a better platform for communicating at home.

From finding out who they are hanging out with and arranging hangouts to attending parent teacher conferences and learning about their teachers, it’s important to stay involved.

Become involved with after school activities!

From joining an existing or new sport to joining a club, organization, or some other after-school activity – this is a great experience for students of all ages!

Joining after-school activities allows for your child to become involved with different groups of people, learn how to work with others, communicate, and most importantly – have fun!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK wishes everyone the best of luck as they head into back-to-school season! While we can only offer friendly advice about heading back to school, we can offer real help when it comes to packing, storage, local or long-distance moving! If you need help arranging furniture in your home, we can help there, too!

Visit our website and find out how TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is able to assist you with any moving or storage need you might have!

August 7, 2017August 16, 2017 Movers Who Blog Home Sweet Home, Leadership, Moving with kids, Organizing, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Set your kids up for success this school year with these back to school tips

-by Anna Stephens

It’s back to school season, and families are shifting into school mode after a long, relaxing summer. As we approach the fall, nerves are setting in for many students starting their first day of school. New beginnings can be scary, especially for those children who moved to a new town this summer. Stay on your “A” game as a parent with these 10 tips for your child’s success.

1. Plan a fabulous first day of school outfit. Let your child plan what they want to wear on their first day. Make sure they pick an outfit that makes them feel happy and confident. If your budget allows it, purchase something brand new so they can start the year with a fresh, new look.

2. Practice their schedule with them. Once your child gets their schedule, walk through their classes with them so they know where they’re headed for their classes. This is especially useful for incoming middle-schoolers, who will now be traveling to classes on their own!

3. Get fun and durable school supplies. Download your child’s school supplies list and do some research online for special school supply deals. Many websites offer package deals that include the same products as retailers, but at a lower price. Let your child have a say in what you purchase so they feel confident and fully equipped for school.

4. Help to decorate their locker. Purchase a magnetic mirror, little magnets to hang pictures, washi tape, or other cute decorations. If possible, head into school during the summer, or after school lets out one day, to decorate the inside of their locker with wrapping paper. A personalized locker is sure to lift your child’s spirits if they’re having a bad day.
5. Make hearty breakfasts. Make sure your child goes to school on a full belly so they feel energized during the school day

6. Pack nutritious lunches and include a note. Pack foods that are filling and healthy. To make your mornings easier, you can even pack lunches the night before. Also, leave a little sticky note inside their lunch to let your kids know you’re thinking about them!

7. Encourage them to get involved with an after school team or organization. Joining a team or organization can be a beneficial experience for your child. It will encourage them to be active, and will introduce them to new people. Push your kids to step out of their comfort zones and try something new and challenging.

8. Keep communication with your child open. After school, show interest in their day and their homework, but don’t interrogate. Let them come to you with help and questions naturally, and always make sure they know you’re there to help if they need it.

9. Get to know your kids’ teachers and friends. Your kids spend their entire day with their friends and teachers, so you should get to know them! You can understand your child’s perspective better if you are familiar with their main influences.

10. Show your kids extra patience and support. This is nerve-wracking stuff! Every child responds differently to stress, so be prepared and supportive through it all.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® wishes you an enjoyable back-to-school season! In the meantime, we are here to help with any packing supplies, storage, local or long-distance moving needs you may have. We can even help after your move is complete with our in-home moving services, such as reorganizing furniture, or helping get rid of items you no longer need. Contact your local franchise to learn more.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. For more helpful tips and tricks, follow our blog and like us on Facebook. Let us help move you forward!

August 31, 2015June 16, 2016 Movers Who Blog Moving

Entertain your kids by repurposing moving boxes

Do you have a clutter of boxes lying around? Are you looking for activities for the days of summer to entertain your kids? TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has a few fun and creative solutions for you to enjoy with your kiddos!

Fort. Building a fort is probably the most popular project for kids of all ages. Constructing and designing a fort takes up time and can be really fun! Even after the fort is built, your little ones can have fun playing games inside. If you really want to keep the kids busy, get a little more creative by building a pirate ship or a castle.

Doll house. Help your kids make a special house for their dolls. Have fun cutting out windows and doors, and decorating the inside and outside of the doll house.

Puppet theatre. You can also create a puppet theater out of boxes. You children and their friends can have fun cutting out puppets from card board, decorating them, and gluing them to popsicles sticks.

Sensory box. Another fun, simple idea would be to make a sensory box. Cut a hole in the top of a box and place objects in the box for the kids to feel or smell. This is a fun hands-on activity for your kids to enjoy.

Lemonade stand. As the last days of summer fly by, take advantage of the heat and build and decorate a lemonade stand. Even after it’s built, the kids can make and sell lemonade and make an entire day out of this project.

Maze. If you have a surplus of boxes, you can cut out holes or sides of boxes and secure them together to create a maze for your kids to enjoy. I promise you, they will have a blast crawling through it and trying to find their way out.

The opportunities are endless. If you’re looking for additional ideas to keep the kiddos happy and entertained during their last part of summer break, be sure to check out the many ideas on Pinterest! Keep an eye out for our popular blog post on this year’s best Halloween box costume ideas, to keep costumes cost effective and creative this year. Happy crafting!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. We are leaders in the moving and packing industry. Let us help move your forward! For more moving, packing, or relocation tips, subscribe to our blog or like us on Facebook.

August 24, 2015September 6, 2016 Movers Who Blog Tips and Tricks

Transitioning your little ones: new school, home, and friends

Written by Nicole Harrison

The beginning of a new school year is usually filled with excitement. However, the first day at a new school is a different story, and in some cases, the anticipation and excitement is outweighed by anxiety and nerves. Your child’s feelings on attending a new school may vary based on his or her age – they may feel anger, resentment, excitement, or nervousness. Regardless of how old your kids are, there are a handful of tactics to help them adjust to this change.

Orientation/school tour. This is easily one of the most important steps to do with your kids. Make time to attend new student orientation, or if there isn’t one, schedule a school tour together. Both of you will have the opportunity to learn more about the school, class structure, curriculum, and get any questions answered. Whether going to an orientation or scheduling a tour, you and your kids will become familiar with the new school before their first day. This is also a perfect time to meet the teacher. A few familiar faces and knowing where to go will make the first days much easier for your child. It may seem silly, but we promise, it will make a huge difference and will immediately make them more comfortable during the transition if they can navigate through the hallways, and find their way around with ease. Spend time learning about the new school. Are there any fun facts about the new school? When was it built? How many students go there? What type of electives do they offer? Spend time learning as much as you can about the new school. The more you learn before the first day, the more prepared your kids will be.

Stock up on school supplies. To ease your child’s nerves, take them back-to-school shopping to stock up on school supplies they need. Most schools have a list of supplies their students will need for each grade. If the school hasn’t provided a list, contact them and ask for a list of supplies your child will need most.

Explore the playground. Before your kids’ first day, take them up to the playground, spend time playing and making them comfortable with the new set up. Find activities they like such as the swings or monkey bars and spend time playing with them. That way, when they go off to recess they will be familiar with the new playground and will most likely branch out and join other students participating in activities they love!

Prepare for the first day. Before school starts, allow your child a trial run of a school day. Practice walking to the bus stop, walking the route, or driving to school. The evening before the first day of school, run through last minute items. Where is the bus stop? What time does the bus come? What is the bus number? Pack a special lunch for the first day. Spend this time sifting through the remaining items that haven’t been addressed. If your little one seems particularly nervous for his or her first day, consider taking them to school versus riding the bus.

Get involved in your kids’ school. If your children are young, it helps to get involved. Network with other parents, get to know their teacher and classmates on a personal level. If you’re able to, volunteering your time is a great way to make your son or daughter feel more comfortable in a new environment, and they will be able to see a familiar face in class.

Set up play dates. Shortly after your kids start at their new school, set up some play dates with their classmates. This is a great way for them to build relationships with their classmates and to help them make friends at school. There is a fine line between supporting them and putting too much pressure on them, make sure your kids feel supported at all times.

Participate in extracurricular activities. Are there activities in your new community that your child has an interest in? If your son enjoys martial arts, try to find a program he can participate in. If your daughter enjoys swimming, try to find a swim team she can join. Extracurricular activities are an added bonus for you and your kids to become acquainted with the community.

Attending a new school can be stressful for children and parents, hopefully these pointers will aid the transition. We encourage parents to keep their children involved throughout the process, without being too pushy or making them step too far outside their comfort zones.

July 27, 2015July 24, 2015 Movers Who Blog Moving

College moving 101: tips for your first move

Written by Corinne DeVries

Where do you even begin?! Preparing for your first move to college can be stressful and overwhelming, to say the least. The uncertainty surrounding what will soon be your college life is looming ahead. You’re not sure where everything on campus is, where your room is, what you should pack, if your new peers will be welcoming, or if you’ll get everything done before your move in date.

Thankfully we have quite a few college moving experts on hand to offer their advice on expertly preparing you for your move, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about!

Getting started and getting there

Most universities and colleges begin sending brochures, flyers, and check-up emails a mont College moving h or two in advance to prepare you to move in. Often, among these materials will be a list of suggested items you need to bring. This is a good way to start your list of items you know you need to bring. Another important thing to remember is most campuses get crazy busy during move-in days. A high influx of cars are on campus, makes parking and getting to your dorm or apartment just short of impossible. Be sure you check what time you are scheduled to move in and where you can park to unload your belongings, and try to stick with this schedule! A lot of students will be moving in on the same day, and if you try to move in at a different time, there may not be a place to park and unload. Lastly, on move day, give yourself a little extra time to get there—there are many people in one area, and getting through campus or around town can take a lot longer than usual, and you want to make sure you are punctual for your move-in time.

Roommate bonding

It’s a good idea to get to know your roommate and become familiar with them so you don’t feel like you’re moving in with a total stranger. Meeting up to grab lunch is the best way to introduce yourself but if you don’t have time, or you roommate doesn’t live near you, you can always chat online or over the phone. This way you can find out what they like to do in their free time, as well as figure out who will be bringing what items. The typical list of items students share with their roommates are things like a futon, fridge, microwave, TV, carpet, etc.!

Sharing a bathroom

Check if your dorm is suite style or community bath. If you’re in a suite style dorm, you will want to stock up on cleaning supplies. Usually with four people plus your friends that come over, your bathroom gets gross pretty quickly. Get to know your suitemates and set up a weekly cleaning schedule for the bathroom. Since cleaning supplies can be a hassle to pack, you will most likely want to find the local convenience store once you move in, and get cleaning supplies for your bathroom.

If your dorm has community bath, you will probably want to invest in a carrier for your shampoo/conditioner, tooth brush, razors etc. to make trips to the bathroom simple. You can just grab your carrier rather than trying to carry everything in your arms. Sometimes toiletries can be awkward to pack. If you don’t want to deal with trying to find a place to squeeze your toiletries in with all of your clothes on move day, you may want to wait and buy these items at the convenience store once you arrive.

Other essentials

Be sure to read through all of the information the university has sent you about measurements. All dorms are different, so before buying your futon, carpet, or fridge, check the size of your room to ensure what you’re buying will all fit in your room. Also, double check things like bed size. Some bunk beds or lofts in college dorms are longer or a different size than your average twin bed. If you’re planning to buy your own sheets, double check the bed size to make sure the sheets will fit.

Linen agreements

Some campuses offer linen agreements for on-campus living. So if you don’t want to go out and find sheets that fit, check to see if your campus offers a linen agreement. Often linen agreements include washing the sheets as well as shower towels. These items usually need to be returned at the end of the year during checkout, but it’s one less thing to pack!

In addition, check the laundry situation in your dorm. There may be washers and dryers in your dorm hall. Some campuses may include the use of the machines in your housing contract. However, some may require you to use cards or quarters. If this is the case, you may want to bring quarters or find a nearby location where you can exchange cash for quarters!

Survival kit

Some things you may not think about when moving into the dorm is that you will most likely get sick whether it be a cold, the flu, migraines, or maybe you will get a really bad paper cut! Or for those bad days where you seem to be spilling everything, whether it be on your carpet, desk, or even on yourself, there are a few things you will want to pack:

First aid: bandages, antibiotic and hydrocortisone ointments, pain killers, digital thermometer, decongestant, and antacids
Laundry: detergent, stain remover stick, and fabric softener
Cleaning: antibacterial wipes, glass cleaning wipes, microfiber dust cloth, roll of paper towels, broom, and dustpan

Tips

Pack light
- The dorms aren’t very big and there isn’t a lot of room for clutter. Try to only pack the essentials with maybe a few decorative items such as pictures of family and high school friends to make it feel more like home.
- It may be easy to pack clothes in a suitcase, however there isn’t a lot of storage space in a dorm room so try to pack clothes in garbage bags or something that can be easily thrown away or stored for when it’s time to move out again.
Pack like things together
- If you pack similar belongings together, it makes unpacking on arrival so much easier.
Tool kit
- Bring a tool kit for move in day and have it handy in case you want to loft/de-loft your bed, put together a table you brought, or something of the sort.
Explore
- Introduce yourself to people living on your floor or in your hall. The friends you make in college will likely become lifelong friends.

Also find nearby convenience stores because we all know there is that one thing you forgot to pack and you won’t be able to wait for mom to send it to you in the mail.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. To learn more moving and packing tips subscribe to our blog or like us on Facebook.