Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jif® and Smucker’s®. All opinions are mine alone. #BetterTogetherPBandJ #WeAreBetterTogether #CollectiveBias
Are you looking for a memorable way to bond with your children after school?
Back to school is always an exciting time for kids and parents. One of my favorite parts about this time of year is the after school snack I get to share with my kiddos and the means at which it brings us as a family around the kitchen table to talk, laugh and love on each other.
This year, I’m a little sad as my son will be left alone in elementary school as my daughter heads off to middle school. With different schedules, different work loads, different school buses and different dress codes things may be a bit chaotic for a while. However, one thing I know I can count on to help us with the transition is the time we spend together around the kitchen table after school, indulging in snacks and bonding.
Creating a routine that works will help cut down on the stress of these changes without compromising our family time. It makes this time of year more fun and gives us all something to look forward too. Let me tell you, if you don’t have any back to school traditions, it is not too late!
After School Routine
Normally, you can find us indulging in a good ole peanut butter and jelly sandwich and bonding around the kitchen table. PB&J has been a favorite of mine every since I was a little girl! I’m so happy that my kids love them too because its a classic snack that holds so many family memories. Our favorite way to do back to school is indulging in our favorite snack, family style, after school.
We place a jar of Jif® Peanut Butter, a jar of Smucker’s® Strawberry Jam and some bread on the table and past everything around as we catch up on each other’s day. We are very particular about our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and have found this combination to be the most delicious! Making them together gives us more time to spend with each other.
While we enjoy our after school snack together we catch up on each others day. Using the list of after school questions below as a guide, I initiate an open discussion that is sure to get us all on the same page.
Snack Time
Moms want to provide the best snack options for their kids, but it’s not always easy to find a quick and easy solution that they will eat and she will feel good about giving them. Only PB&J’s made with Jif and Smucker’s allow you to easily provide a homemade taste your kids will love every time. Trust me, us peanut butter and jelly loving Moms know!
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- Jif peanut butter
- Smucker’s Strawberry Jam – or your favorite flavor
- Bread
First, spread the peanut butter over both slices of bread. Then, add the Smucker’s jam to each slice of bread, atop the peanut butter. Next, combine both pieces of bread to form a sandwich. Lastly, cut the sandwich in half – it’s just better this way! Finally, Enjoy!
Because PB&J has become a classic tradition in my household, it makes the perfect after school snack as I ask them questions in hopes of creating memories and bonding after a long day away from each other. So much can happen in one school day so it’s necessary to catch up as much as possible.
I found Jif peanut butter and Smucker’s fruit spread in the jar food aisle at my local Dollar General. I love shopping here because its hassle free, convenient for a quick purchase and the fact they have digital coupons make my shopping experience even better!
Plus, you get $1.00 off off when you buy both Jif Peanut Butter & Smucker’s Fruit Spread.
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Family Time
In addition to snacking on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we use this time around the table to talk and bond. Its the perfect time to pry into their school day by asking them pertinent conversation starter questions.
Why Ask Question’s After School
- Promotes bonding
- Helps you stay in the know
- Allows for open communication
Communicating with our children is so important! Yet, we all know that sometimes its not easy. The one word answers to questions are never ending. The distractions seem to make them blurt out responses in a hurry. It’s almost like pulling teeth to get them to sit still long enough for quality time and the older they get the worst it gets. They are more concerned with hanging out with friends, social media and video games. Realistically, trying to get them to put down their devices is a task with in itself.
The great thing is that you can gain control by being consistent with your after school activities. Implement some after school traditions that they look forward to and you’re well on your way to getting the bonding time you’re in search of. I have a list of ten questions you should be asking your children after school. These questions will hopefully kick those one word answers to the curb and open up the channel of communication. It may not be possible to ask every one daily, you can be the judge of what works best for your family.
DOWNLOAD THE AFTER SCHOOL QUESTIONS PRINTABLE.
Printables are for personal use only. I recommend printing it out and hanging on the fridge for easy access.
Ten Questions You Should Be Asking Your Child After School
- What did you learn today? I like to know what new things they learned in class. This helps me gauge homework, test and how I can assist them better at home.
- Did you display any acts of kindness? I teach my children to be kind to their teachers and peers. Its important to know whether they actually practice what they learn at home.
- Do you have any questions for me? I like to have an open door policy with my children. I’d rather they get the correct answers to questions at home versus the wrong answers from peers.
- Is there anything you need help with? Staying on top of the areas your child struggles in is important. If they don’t understand something or need help I want to assist them before their grades or behavior suffers.
- What did you like best and least about your school day? Staying informed about their likes and dislikes as it pertains to school will help in determining their strengths and weaknesses throughout the school year.
- What did you have for lunch? Did you eat it all? Knowing what you child ate or if they consumed it all keeps you informed on their health and eating habits. It also helps me determine why they come home and raid the pantry so tough!
- What friends did you hang out with today? You should always know who your child’s friends are. It’s important to know who they spend most of their time with.
- What are you looking forward to tomorrow? We all know that kids interest change over time. This will help me stay in the loop on their likes. It will also give me a snapshot of whats projected to happen in class the next day.
- Did anyone get in trouble in class today? Why? This helps me to get a good look at what goes on in class. I can see what types of things kids are getting trouble for and determine if its disruptive to my child’s learning. It’s also a good measure of negative influences my child my subjected to.
- Was anyone rude to you today? I want to know if my children are having issues with peers. This allows me to see if there are any issues with bullying or something that needs to monitored or looked into further.
I wish you and your kiddo’s an awesome school year! I hope that after school time is fun, tasty and full of genuine bonding and quality time.
What’s your favorite way to do after school time?
What are you waiting for!?! GO OWN YOUR FANCY!!!
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