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        <title>JBGoodwin REALTORS® - Austin &amp; San Antonio Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/tags/family-homes-in-austin/</link>
        <description>Stay up to date on the latest Austin, San Antonio, and Central Texas real estate trends with JBGoodwin's real estate blog.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/6-ways-texas-parents-can-foster-a-successful-school-year-for-their-kids.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/6-ways-texas-parents-can-foster-a-successful-school-year-for-their-kids.html</link>
        <title>6 Ways Texas Parents Can Foster A Successful School Year For Their Kids</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
 


It’s that time of year again.


Summer has ended and kids are getting back into their routine of attending classes, adjusting to new teachers, and looking ambitiously into the new school year. For parents, there is the endless cycle of lunch-making, early mornings, shuttling, after-school snacks, and communication with teachers.


Going back to school in Central Texas means preparing for an awesome year of learning, meeting new friends, and working hard to achieve great accomplishments.


To start the new school year off right during these first several weeks of the school year, here are some ways to prepare your kids for success:


1) Refine the routine


Kids respond remarkably well to structure. You might find that setting up new guidelines helps your kids thrive. This year, gradually beta test your routines to find the best one.


For instance: Set the expectation for your kids to empty out their lunch box and put away their shoes first thing when they get home. Once you set the expectation, kids will fall into the rhythm and you will avoid the hangry meltdown when you ask your child to do this chore later in the afternoon.


Morning routine hacks: Take some time at night (with a glass of wine, perhaps) to sit down and list the top three stressors in your getting ready routine. Getting dressed? Have your child set out five outfits for themselves on Sunday evening so each day is already laid out. Breakfast? Talk with your children and choose an option that you can (at least partially) make ahead. Leaving for school? Move the routine back five minutes and buy your children a single pair of school shoes that are super easy to put on.


Routines make daily tasks easier for you and your child.


2) Meal prepping = good responsibility


There are so many different approaches to meal prepping for school-aged children. By first grade, students can put together a basic meal for themselves with minimal help. This is a good for a kid's development. 


Consider working together on Sunday evening to make all five lunches at once. This can be a meaningful time to talk about the upcoming week, and the process will make mornings easier when you're in a hurry to get out the door.


Another alternative—which you can check out in this video from Tasty—is to set up various labeled sections of your fridge for main dishes, snacks, fruit, and drinks. This grab-and-go approach can be integrated into the morning routine.


3) Prevent homework woes


Again, a routine is the most helpful way to prevent homework meltdown. Try to keep it simple and communicate the routine to kids:




Get home


Empty lunch/put away shoes


Snack


Homework


Put homework back in backpack


Everything else




By finishing homework (and putting books or materials back in their backpack) before playtime, screen time, or downtime, you will avoid nighttime angst or early morning homework meltdowns.


You will also learn about possible projects or bigger extracurricular needs (cupcakes, anyone?) earlier in the evening. It’s better for everyone.


4) How to talk to your kids


Kids typically don’t readily offer up information about their school day. Maybe you can get out a word or two about their day, but it’s almost universally difficult to get kids to really open up.


Set a new precedent this year by creating a culture of openness in your home.


Make it clear: not only do you care, but you expect your kids to talk to each other and to you about things like bullying. Kindly encourage kids “We tell each other these things in this family.”


Mix in a lot of supportive, silly hugs and smiles with the conversation to help kids feel safe. Body language communicates a lot to kids.


Remind them: “It’s my job to make sure you’re safe And I want to do a really good job.” (or for older kids, “My work is to support you and make sure you’re ok.”)


5) Communicate with teachers


Teachers work really hard to help your children day in and day out. Give them some credit, and make it a point to shake their hand and listen to them. Your children will follow your lead. If you emphasize respecting their teachers, children will be more likely to listen and respect their teachers too.


When you go to see a teacher, ask them how you can help reinforce what they’re trying to do in the classroom, and follow-up. They might mention something about your child’s behavior that you haven’t noticed like excessive sleepiness or signs of bullying. Consider teachers as allies in the well-being and development of your child.


6) Minimize screen time issues


Let’s face it: no one seems to know exactly how much screen time is appropriate. The more you clamp down, the more it seems that your kids are drawn to screens. Try not to banish screen time altogether. It may be helpful to distinguish between educational screen time and mindless game/cartoon time and manage the quality of screen time more than the quantity.


Setting time limits can be helpful, but some of the impetus may be on you to proactively suggest a snack, craft, shared board game, or an outside activity after school so your children don’t fall into mindless screen time out of boredom. If you give them an amusing diversion, chances are they will forget about the iPad and join you in the fun


Fortunately, there are many amazing schools in Austin, San Antonio, and the surrounding areas. If you’re considering relocating, let aJB Goodwin agent help you find a home that is close to a good school district or private school of your choice.


Take care of your family and live well with JB Goodwin.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:23:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/the-ultimate-family-checklist-for-a-successful-summer-in-austin.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/the-ultimate-family-checklist-for-a-successful-summer-in-austin.html</link>
        <title>The Ultimate Family Checklist For A Successful Summer In Austin</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



School is out


That means parents are scrambling to schedule fun activities to keep their kids active and learning during the summer break.


Fortunately, Austin is a place where healthy living is valued and boredom is hard to achieve. If you’re new to the area or simply looking for a reminder of the fun places to take your kids, we’ve narrowed down some of our favorite healthy summer activities.


1. Explore The Greenbelt


For locals, this one is the most obvious. For newbies, this is arguably the best gem we can provide. Miles and miles of beautiful nature trails run right through Austin’s backyard. Find the entrance nearest your home, and your kids will swim and explore to their hearts’ content.


2. Swim At Deep Eddy


Don’t forget your sunscreen Deep Eddy is a giant and historic public pool where kids can splash, swim, or even play chase in the nearby grass. This spot can be popular during the summer, which means you and your children can expect to make great new friends as you take in some sun.


3. Bounce At One Of Austin’s Trampoline Parks


Trampoline parks are great for birthdays or just the treat of a bouncy and active afternoon. The best part is: these trampoline parks exist in several locations across Austin, so the commute is never too far away.


Residents in South Austin can try out Altitude Trampoline Park, and those living north can give Urban Air Trampoline Park a try. Of course, there are others. Explore the one that looks best to your family


4. Catch Some Sun At Barton Springs &amp; Zilker Park


Everyone loves a brisk swim on a hot summer day. This spot on our list is a generous two-for-one. Barton Springs and Zilker Park show up on just about every tourist-oriented website out there. But when it comes to something as incredible as a natural spring beside a giant park, we can’t really help but add this to our list. After all, what’s not to enjoy?


Bring some floaties, sunblock, and your favorite book. There’s plenty of grass for lying out on a towel, and ample water for swimming the afternoon away.


5. Attend A Summer Camp


When school lets out, the summer camps begin. Austin is home to far too many camps for us to even begin to make a dent in our list of recommendations.


Across the city, organizations offer educational camps for kids of all ages to learn great lessons while having an absolute blast. Creative Action and Zach Theatre are two wonderful places for children to experience engaging camps. But there are many, many more that you can uncover with some simple investigation.


6. Practice Your Putt


Can you out-putt your little ones? Your child probably doubts it, but at least try to keep up Austin is home to some great putt-putt courses. Peter Pan or Duke’s Adventure Golf can be a fun way to spoil a child with an active afternoon.


7. Bring Your Bikes To Lady Bird Lake


Bring your bike and colorful helmet. Lady Bird Lake has wide biking and walking trails for the entire family to explore. This can be an awesome spot for a picnic, and kids will have no trouble spotting beautiful wildlife as they meander their way through this beautiful trail.


8. Attend Events At The Library


Sometimes you need a little break from the summer heat. Many parents find that the best breaks from the outdoors involve visiting a local library. Books are wonderful in and of themselves, but library visits don’t have to exclusively be about reading.


Many Austin libraries offer simple classes or presentations that kids will love. Check the library nearest your home to find out what they’re offering this summer. You may be impressed by some of the free events.


9. Take A Day Trip To A Museum


Whether your child enjoys art, history, or science, Austin is in no short supply of fun museums to investigate. The interactivity and exploration involved in museums can bring their love for the humanities to life Visiting a local museum is one of the few experiences so close to home that offer such a wealthy mix of fun and learning.


10. Tour The Capitol Grounds And Building


The Capitol building is a central location in Austin. The building has existed through famous moments in Texas history. Its grounds and interior are decorated with statues and paintings that retell some of the real stories of heroes from Texas’ past. Go early enough to explore the Capitol’s library – it closes earlier than the rest of the grounds and is the highlight of some families’ visit.


Austin is a family-friendly city. Kids can attend ambitious schools, and take part in numerous fun activities during the summer. If you are looking for a new home in Austin, contact JB Goodwin or speak directly with  one of our agents today to find an Austin home that fits your lifestyle and budget.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jul 2017 07:25:00 -0500</pubDate>
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