Back-to-school time has come once again! Every parent knows that the start of a new school year entails a lot of work, stress, and expense. There is plenty to do, but not a lot of time to get everything done. Summer goes by quickly and before you realize it, your kids' first day of school is less than a week away.

Planning your list and getting an early start on each item can help you stay on track and avoid rushing the preparations. But where should we start?

1. Shop for school supplies

Start shopping for all the things your kids need, from school supplies to toiletries. Get your children involved by letting them pick out what they like.

2. Outline a new routine

Plan a new routine to prepare the kids for school, especially in the morning.

3. Get the kids on a new schedule

It’s a challenge for children to adjust to a new schedule. Get them out of the summer routine and into the new one you planned out a few weeks early.

4. Plan fun and educational activities every day

Do summer reading and play educational games to gear your kids for a new school year and review the things they learned before the break.

5. Organize and clean your home

You may have relaxed your normal standards for the summer. Starting the school year with a clean and orderly home is a great idea. Keeping things organized will help prepare everyone for the new schedule in the mornings.

Children should feel comfortable, have a good time, and learn things at school. Working through this checklist will have everyone in the family ready and enthusiastic for school, regardless of whether your children are in pre-school, kindergarten, or grade school.

While school is out, summer reading is a great way to keep the kids engaged and learning. Those long, leisurely days are ideal for relaxing with an interesting book.

However, kids may not consider reading during the summer their top priority, but parents and educators should. Why? Reading throughout the summer months is essential for a child's capacity to not only preserve knowledge from the previous school year but also to advance their understanding and their analytical abilities for next year's curriculum.

Reading during the summer can be both fun and educational. What you need for a pleasant reading experience that motivates children to broaden their reading interests is a good book.

For ages 3 to 5 who are at a pre-reading stage, picture books like Silly Sally by Audrey Woods and The Bear’s Song by Benjamin Chaud are great choices. They can follow the illustrations along with the story.

For ages 6 to 8 or early readers, The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination by Brad Montague and That Egg is Mine by Liz Goulet Dubois are great choices that are both attention-grabbing and interesting.

For ages 9 to 12 or middle graders, introduce them to bravery through adventure books. Some great books to consider are Heroes of Havensong: Dragonboy by Megan Reyes and When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller.

For teens, Young Adult novels are ideal! From thrillers to romance, there are tons of page-turner reads like Five Survive by Holly Jackson and Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour.

Present several options for your kids, so they can pick their own books. It will give them a sense of ownership and motivation to read.

One of the best things about summer is the plentiful supply of fruits and vegetables. Nothing beats that first delicious mouthful of watermelon in the heat of August. It's an ideal chance to discover the best garden-fresh produce and embrace the summer mood.

Since fresh fruits are harvested at the peak of their maturity, there is a stronger flavor and an abundant nutritious profile. With an eye to sustainability, purchasing seasonal fruits also enables you to support regional farmers and shop locally. Besides, they are more accessible, which is better for your wallet.

Be on the lookout for the freshest and tastiest fruits this summer!

Peaches are versatile summer fruit you can eat by hand or caramelized into an upside-down cake. You can never go wrong with the ripest and juiciest peach.

Raspberries are best washed before eating or cooking. And you should act fast since they can turn into mush sooner than you might think.

Cherries have been around and loved for over a hundred years. These fruits are great eaten sweet or sour. You put them in a pie or in your cocktail!

Watermelon is the iconic summer fruit recognized by many people around the world. Some might argue they taste plain, but it has a complex aromatic compound that will leave you wanting more.

Blueberries are native to North America and are found in many gardens and even in the wild. They are delicious eaten as it is or made into a sweet sauce or muffin filling.

Head to your local farmer’s market and fill your kitchen with these summer fruits. You can wash and eat them straightaway or turn them into a sweet treat.

People who want to exercise in the summer may find the heat to be a significant obstacle. If you're not careful, you could develop a heat-related illness like a heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or severe dehydration, all of which can seriously hinder your efforts to reach your fitness goals.

A Guide To Exercising Safely In The Heat

The core temperature of the body rises during exercise and in hot environments. Even seasoned athletes should use caution when the two are combined, such as when running on a hot, muggy day.

Take a cold shower before starting your workout. After taking a shower, keep your head damp to help you stay cool during your workout.

What you're wearing matters when working out in the heat. Opting for light-colored, sweat-wicking clothing is better; dark, heavier clothing may make you feel even hotter. Gears such as helmets or protective padding trap heat and increase your body temperature. Reduce your workout intensity and length if you have to put on your gear.

When it gets hot outside, stay hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day and eating foods like fresh lettuce, watermelon, grapefruit, broccoli, and tomatoes that are high in water content.

There is nothing wrong with working out indoors at a nearby gym or, if you have the equipment, even at home. This may be your greatest option to stay cool and prevent a heat-related accident while still getting in your workout on days when there is an extreme heat warning.

If you start to feel lightheaded, sick to your stomach, or exhausted, pay attention to your body and take a rest. It's better to take a little break for relaxation than to push yourself too hard.

When you use or lose more fluid than you consume, your body becomes dehydrated because it lacks the water and other fluids it needs to function normally. Dehydration will occur if lost fluids are not replaced.

Dehydration isn't just your body losing water; it's also the depletion of electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium, all of which are necessary for breathing, moving, speaking, and generally being alert.

Early detection of dehydration symptoms is essential for effective hydration therapy and can help avoid a more acute, life-threatening situation. Dehydration can manifest in a number of ways, some of which are more evident than others.

• Dark urine or not urinating
• Lightheadedness/dizziness
• Rapid breathing and/or heartbeat
• Dry or flushed skin that doesn’t bounce back when you pinch it
• Dry or sunken eyes
• Confusion
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• White tongue
• Fever and chills
• Craving sweet foods

Drink lots of water and eat meals high in water to avoid being dehydrated. For the majority of healthy people, following the daily rule of following your thirst is sufficient.

It will also help if you always have a water bottle with you as it’ll remind you to stay hydrated. You can spice up plain water by adding fresh fruits like strawberries, oranges, lemons, or cucumbers. Eating your water is also an option! Consume more leafy vegetables, cantaloupes, watermelon, and tomatoes. Sip coconut water or electrolytes after working out. If you already feel dehydrated, stay away from alcohol because it will cause more fluid loss.

These suggestions help in avoiding dehydration altogether, which is simpler than trying to treat it after it has already occurred.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that seniors are more likely to suffer heat-related diseases and injuries. Why is it that older individuals are more at risk of extreme weather than younger people?

Sweating is the body's primary method of controlling body temperature. As we age, our body becomes less effective at controlling our body temperature because we sweat less than we did when we were young. Older adults retain fat differently, which might further impede the body's ability to regulate its temperature.

Hot Weather Safety Tips For Seniors

Seniors may find it more challenging to handle the humidity and high temperatures. If you have elders in your family or neighborhood, it is vital to monitor them to prevent heat-related symptoms from developing into life-threatening heat stroke.

Check on your elderly loved ones to ensure that they are routinely consuming water throughout the day and boosting their fluid consumption on especially hot days or when there is more activity. Always bring water bottles with you when you leave the house.

The sun is most intense between 10 AM and 4 PM. Heat and humidity cause evaporation to slow down, forcing the body to work harder to maintain a normal temperature. So, try to keep your outdoor activities for just the morning and evening hours.

Dress them appropriately for the conditions. Pick loose-fitting, light-colored clothes that are easy to move around in. Cotton and other natural materials may feel cooler than synthetic ones.

Keep your senior connected to a local caregiving network. Provide your elderly loved one with an emergency contact list that they can easily access. By doing this, they can find out the names and telephone numbers of neighbors, doctors, emergency services, and caregivers.