Summer may still be in the air, but fall is quickly approaching; and you know what that means. Soon school will be back in session. While you’re children start sharpening those pencils, packing their book bags and heading out the doors of their McHenry, Williams Bay, Poplar Grove or Richmond new homes to make the school bus, keep in mind that it takes more than booster shots and checkups to keep your children safe this year.

Below are some tips to help your children have a fun and safe school year:

1. Turn out the lights. Lots of fun and extended daylight hours may have kept your children up a little past their bedtimes this summer. But remember, one of the most important ways to keep your children safe this year is making sure they get plenty of sleep. For elementary school age children that means about 10 to 11 hours a night.
2. Healthy Meals. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Not only because it gives your children the fuel they need to face the day, but also because a new environment, new friends and a shorter lunch period may cause your children’s appetites to vanish. That’s not to say that you should forego those healthy lunches. Eating smarter throughout the day will help your children excel.
3. Schedule in playtime. Although your children may have no shortage of exercise during the summer, once they enter school they will be spending most of their time at desks. Recess and P.E. may not provide them with the physical activity required to keep them healthy and happy. Make sure your children get at least 20 to 30 minutes of regular, nonstop exercise a day.

So, what will give you space so your children get enough sleep, help you prepare healthy meals and provide a place for afternoon play? Why, new McHenry County real estate of course. We have new homes at Liberty Trails, The Trails of Dawson Creek, The Trails of Pheasant Ridge and Bailey Estates that will accommodate any family’s lifestyle.

For more information about our new homes, visit the Gerstad Builders website.