1. Start practicing mindfulness which is the practice of paying attention to what’s going on inside and around you.
2. Make time for play and relaxing using the “four pillars of health” – relaxation, exercise, nutrition and sleep.
3. Enjoy healthy meals together as they have been shown to boost kids’ language skills, lower their stress, and even improve the chances they eat more fruits and vegetables. 
4. Twice-daily tooth brushing – two minutes each time and floss once a day to keep teeth and gums healthy.
5. Encourage a good night’s sleep which is important for growth and development and key to their health and wellbeing. How much is enough? 9-12 hours for children aged 6-12 years, and 8-10 hours for kids aged 13-18 years. 

1. Develop organizational system that will work for YOU - learning to be organized takes time and practice. 
2. Avoid distractions in your study space – best if it’s a space used for studying and working only.
3. Keep all of your books, notebooks, binders, and folders for each class together on a shelf – making it less likely you will forget something.
4. Reward yourself! – even small rewards will help you to avoid procrastinating!
5. Schedule time to complete your assignments based on anticipated time on task and urgency – prioritizing tasks and setting a clear schedule will help you complete them on time.
6. Use an academic planner to keep track of your assignments, deadlines, and appointments – you’ll know exactly where to look to find out what you need to do.
7. Use shorter, less grammatically correct sentences in note taking – this will enable you to take notes faster and will reduce the risk of falling behind.
8. Divide your study time into blocks separated by quick breaks – study 30-45 minutes then take a 3-5 minute break.
9. Create and save study guides and aids – create study aids for each quiz and test then save them for when you need to study for the big tests.
10. Learn how to effectively communicate with your teachers – teachers are there to provide guidance and support.

1. Get kids out the door faster – set an alarm clock or timer to ring at strategic intervals.
2. Ditch bulky binders – try notebooks with tear-out pages and accordion file folders.
3. File everything – this helps to unload weekly past assignments and organize reference materials.
4. Start a supply stash – e.g. posterboard, markers, index cards, and so on.
5. Prepare for the photo ops – get kids to pose with a cute chalkboard sign.
6. Organize the backseat – e.g. tissues, on-the-go breakfast items, earbuds, notepad, etc. 
7. Own the afterschool snack game – by offering healthy treats that are fun to see and yummy to eat.
8. Plan ahead – use week-at-a-glance planners – teaching older children as early as possible to manage their time.
9. Play keep vs. toss – ask kids to try on their clothes while listening to favorite music or watching a movie then toss worn clothes and donate ones that no longer fit. 
10. Post the daily routine – this helps kids establish a morning and bedtime routine.
11. Designate a command center – create your own to-do list and place items like keys and permission slips in one area.
12. Create a lunchbox cupboard – fill it with lunchbox supplies and easy access snacks.
13. Stash sandwich essentials together – for a fast grab-and-go station that includes deli meats, cheeses, spreads and also includes pre-portioned fruits and veggies.
14. Make packing lunches a snap – like freezing a wet sponge to use as an ice pack.
15. Delegate the drinks – kids help themselves to water with a designated cup that hangs on the fridge door with magnets.
16. Store backpacks and shoes in a cubby – hide kids’ gear in designated cupboards.
17. Dedicate a homework area – stock a caddy with essentials.
18. Make weeknight dinners easy – post upcoming meals so teen can make plans accordingly. You can even let kids write suggestions or leave notes for other family members.
19. Lay out clothes for the week – let kids choose what to wear ahead of time. Take a look at the weather predictions first.
20. Put them to bed on time – if a child needs to wake up at 7 a.m. and get 10 hours of sleep a night, bedtime is 9 p.m.

• Kids’ Connection for ages 4-12 in Schools and Communities
• Youth Connection for ages 10-17 in Schools and Communities
• Kids’ Connection, Too for Ages 4-15 in Homeless & Domestic Violence Shelters, Group Homes & Other Transitional Living Environments