This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sistema. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s that wonderful time of the year again! Back to routine. Back to early bedtimes. Back to video games on the weekend only. My son might not be overly excited about that one, but I am! My baby is going to 6th grade this year! Don’t tell him I called him my baby hehe! I feel like I blinked and now I have a pre-teen! How did this happen? Over the last two years, I’ve watched him become more and more independent.

3 Back To School Tips That Will Make Your Tween More Independent

Teaching them how to cook

Fun fact, I was cooking mac & cheese by myself since I was ten years old. My son has been begging me to teach him how to cook basic stuff (he loves to cook), and I’m more than happy to oblige! So far, he knows how to make pasta, steak, scrambled eggs, and a few other simple dishes.

Give them more responsibilities

One of the best way to teach pre-teens about being independent is to give them more responsibilities. One being having chores. His chores list has grown quite a bit since he was a toddler. He’s old enough now to watch his sister in the basement while I work in my office. Just like with many pre-teens, it does help to recompense him for his help!

Let them do things on their own

Get his clothes ready the night before
Let him pick out his own clothes for school
Make sure his homework and school projects are done
Pack his lunches

This year my son has requested to bring his own lunches to school. The years before that, I paid a fee, and he was provided with lunch. I personally love that because it meant I didn’t have to worry about packing his lunches every day. He’s super excited about the new Sistema 1.7 L Bento Box. It’s the perfect size for his lunch. The Sistema 1.7 L Bento Box has two moveable compartments as well as a 1-5 oz pot that can be for yogurts, beans, and whatever else fits.

One of the best features is the Sistema KLIP IT easy locking clips. It has a flexible inner seal allows food to stay fresh longer. It also keeps ingredients separated with duo internal compartments on the side.

The Bento Box is dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning a breeze. It’s also microwave, fridge, and freezer safe.