Tips for Going Back to School in 2020

 It’s that time of year again! The summer is nearly behind us, and school aged children are getting ready to go back to school. (If you are in the south, there’s a good chance your schools already have!)  But like much of 2020, things look different than they have in years past.  Millions of children and their families are shifting gears and attending school virtually due to the pandemic.  Those that are attending in person face unforeseen challenges and a new way of learning.  We’re here today to explore tips and tricks to make the transition easier, in whichever way your school is going back.

Tips for Virtual School in 2020

1.      Set up a workspace/desk.  Ensure a consistent workspace and positive learning environment by setting up a workspace that your little one can use every single day for virtual school. You will want to make sure that the desk is sturdy, you have a comfortable chair, it is well-lit, and it is free from noises and distractions. (And far from the X-Box!) We recommend letting your kids decorate it so they feel ownership over their environment and have them take part in making it a special, happy place.

2.      Shop for supplies.  Just as you would for in-person school shopping, take your little one shopping or shop online together for necessary school supplies including binders, loose leaf paper, notebooks, a calculator, colored pencils, highlighters, pencils, pens, erasers & more.  Your school will likely provide a list!  We also think letting your children pick out a fun pencil box is an easy way to get the kids excited about supply shopping, without breaking the bank.  Try our embroidered cosmetic pouches, which double as a pencil/pen case! 

3.      Boost your internet.  No one likes a frozen screen with an ugly face captured during a zoom call. Consider calling your internet provider to upgrade your internet service or looking into a boosting device for your internet. These devices don’t tend to cost an arm and a leg and allow you to feel confident your internet connection isn’t going to drop spontaneously when you need it most.

4.      Dress for success.  Have your children wear their uniforms to school or get dressed as if they were going to school.  Dressing the part helps them psychologically prepare for the day and gets them into the mindset of interacting with people, just as they would at school. Avoid jammies and sweats!

5.      Keep routine and structure. Your school may have a set time that requires you to log in, or it might be more flexible.  If it’s flexible, we recommend setting a start time and end time daily and staying consistent whenever possible. This will help your children feel the routine that school normally provides.

6.      Pack a lunch.  For working parents especially, it’s difficult to stop your day in the middle and make lunch.  A cute idea would be to pack your child’s lunch for them, just as you would if they were headed off to school.  For older children, they can do this themselves!  Consider packing it in a cute new lunch bag for added excitement.  Hey, it’s the little things!  Isn’t it? 

 

Tips for In-Person Learning in 2020

1.      Keep health and safety top of mind.   Paramount to in-person learning and its success are healthy children and classrooms.  Continue to teach your kids to wash hands and to use sanitizer. Avoid touching, hugging, and even little things like sharing pencils/erasers.  Safety is #1.

2.      Wear a mask.  Whether it’s mandatory or not, we’re in the camp of wearing a mask! There are plenty of “cute” masks out there and child-sized ones available. Unfortunately, it does seem you have to try several options until you have found one that is sustainable for hours on end. But it’s worth it once you do. We’ve found that the disposable surgical masks are great for kids. They are light and breathable unlike some hand-made options which although they are cute, can be very stuffy and hot. Also, we suggest practicing wearing a mask for long periods of time before you go back to school. You may want to take a Saturday/Sunday before school starts and have them wear it for the day.  You want their teachers focused on their education, not reminding them to keep their masks on.

3.      Pack a lunch & snacks!  Many schools are doing away with the cafeteria to avoid large crowds of students, so packing a lunch is mandatory.  We think packing a lunch is more fun with cute water bottles, bags, and accessories.  Try some of these ideas to spruce things up! 

In whatever way you and your kids are going back to school this year, we think it also helps to splurge on some items to dress your desk.  Whether at home or at school, a stylish new personalized clipboard, or preppy personalized mousepad, will help get the job done but also lift spirits.  Little luxuries like these can make a big difference in your mood and your approach to getting work done.   We all need whatever we can get right now! So, choose things that bring you joy.   

We wish you luck as this unprecedented school year begins! Share your ideas, tips and tricks with us on our Facebook page.  We’d love to hear from you.

 

Holiday Cards Explained

A Very Holiday August

It may only be August here at More Than Paper, we can already hear Carol of the Bells playing sweetly in the  background, feel a warm fire by the Christmas tree, and imagine wrapping presents for our loved ones.  Keeping traditions alive, we’re also thinking about sending our holiday greeting cards.  We’re offering a big sale on select holiday cards that you might want to check out. It’s true that the early bird does get the worm, after all. If you are willing to order early, you can save quite a bit of money on adorable cards. And, you’ll get a jump on the holidays. One less thing to do come November and December.

Which holiday card is right for you?

There are several types of holiday cards available at More Than Paper and we’re here today to explain the differences between them.  Each type has its advantages and you’ll want to understand the nuances so you can get exactly what works best for you.

Digital Holiday Photo Greeting Cards.  When you select a holiday card with this option, we will digitally print your photo on to the card – no need to get prints and adhere your photos to the cardstock. Your photo will be cropped to fit the space dedicated to the photograph.  Some photo cards accommodate a full bleed photo, which means that your photo prints card edge to card edge.  Other cards will incorporate your photo into the design.  Your photo should be of the highest resolution possible, so make sure to set your camera accordingly. You’ll want to email your photo to us – please include your order number so we can easily match it up. These types of holiday cards work best for a quick solution! Your cards will come ready to mail – just insert the cards into your envelopes and seal shut. You can choose return address printing, labels, or snag a cute return address stamp, too.

Letterpress-printed Photo Mount Cards. Choosing a letterpress-printed card is a beautiful and luxurious option for your holiday greetings. The design along with your personalized information are letterpress printed on to 100% cotton paper available in different weights (110lb and 220lb).  The end product is a luxurious feeling card that has a debossed look (meaning the ink looks pressed into the paper) typically in 1 or 2 colors (each color requires a separate pass on the printing press thus there being a cost associated with each color added).  When ordering these as photo cards, they are only available as photo mount – you affix the proper size photo to the dedicated area. This option is suitable for those who have a bit more time and enjoy the project!  It makes a memorable statement.

Holiday Cards with Foil.  Foil is all the rage and adds a real sparkle to your holiday greeting and photo cards! For most designs, you can choose the color of the foil – from traditional gold and silver to other fun foil colors like rose gold, red, hot pink, green, blue, and white.  Foil stamped embellishments/text can be used in conjunction with a digitally printed photo as well as with the traditional photo mount option where you use adhesive strips provided with the holiday cards to affix your photo.

Holiday Greeting Cards. Prefer sending your holiday cards without photos? We have dozens of options with beautiful designs. From whimsical to formal and everything in between!  Our Holiday Greeting cards are offered in a variety of print methods from digital to thermography to foil stamping.  We also carry many Boxed Holiday products which are cards printed with a greeting only inside ready for you to hand write your signature. We have a huge selection of holiday greeting cards ensuring that there is something for everyone’s taste and budget.

Worth explaining are the differences between flat and folded.  Stating the obvious, a flat card is in fact, flat, and doesn’t open.  Sometimes there are printing options on both sides (back and front.) A folded greeting card opens up with your message on the inside. 

Additional options that add style and whimsy to your ensemble are things like envelope linings.  We love to highlight one of the colors in the card design again by choosing a coordinating lining.  Larger address labels – typically round or square in shape – add color and design to the back of your envelope and double as an envelope seal!

Whatever your style is this 2020 holiday season, More Than Paper has a wide variety of options. Check out the current sale with holiday cards from Boatman Geller, Dabney Lee and Chatsworth and take advantage of this incredible discount that doesn’t happen often and likely won’t be seen again in 2020.

Have questions? We pride ourselves on our customer service and attention to detail. We’re happy to speak with our customers to guide them through the process and to develop a card ensemble that is unique and well coordinated.  Contact us at info@morethanpaper.com or by phone at 516-466-1227.