By Ayomide Otitoju
With the start of September, many Nigerian families are once again adjusting to the back-to-school season, a period often marked by hectic mornings, packed lunchboxes, and the challenge of organizing school essentials.
To ease the transition, experts recommend that parents adopt simple strategies to stay organized and reduce stress as the new school term begins.
Stock Up Early: Parents are advised not to wait until the last minute before buying food staples. Keeping a pantry filled with items such as cereal, oats, bread, rice, pasta, and cooking oil ensures quick meal preparation during busy school weeks. Snacks, biscuits, juice, and canned goods are also useful for days when time is limited. Bulk purchases can help save costs and prevent shortages at crucial moments.
Plan Weekly Meals: Mapping out meals for breakfast and dinner in advance saves time and helps streamline grocery shopping. Prepping ingredients—such as chopping vegetables or marinating meat—can also make weeknight cooking faster.
Organize School Essentials: Creating a designated spot for items like backpacks, lunchboxes, and water bottles helps avoid the morning rush. Parents can also keep pre-portioned snacks in this space for easy access.
Use a Family Calendar: A shared schedule, whether digital or displayed on a whiteboard, helps track school activities, test dates, and family appointments. This minimizes confusion and encourages older children to take responsibility for their schedules.
Involve the Children: Allowing children to choose some of their lunchbox items or snacks fosters responsibility and makes the process more engaging. It also provides an opportunity to teach them about healthy eating and organization.
Retailers such as Foodstuff Store have also positioned themselves as partners in easing back-to-school preparations, offering a wide range of essential food items to help families transition smoothly into the new term.
