Humble ISD schools open their doors for the 2023-2024 school year on August 9. For some, it will be for the very first time. Starting kindergarten is an occasion for celebration and a few understandable jitters. Here are a few tips for ensuring a smooth start:
Read Books About Starting Kindergarten
A great way for parents to start the conversation about kindergarten is by reading books designed to address the topic. Clifford Goes to Kindergarten, The Night Before Kindergarten and The Pigeon Has to Go to School provide opportunities for discussion and understanding about what to expect, making it a fun and interactive way to ease anxieties.
Take a Tour
Take your child to visit their new school. Show them the classroom, playground, school office and restrooms. This will help your child become more acquainted with the new surroundings and reduce anxiety about the unknown. If possible, meet your child’s teacher ahead of time.
Help Them Make a Friend
Your child doesn’t have to go it alone. Children in the same neighborhood are zoned to the same schools. In Balmoral, that means kindergartners will attend either Groves or Ridge Creek elementary schools. See if you can set up a kindergarten meet-and-greet event before school starts. That way your child will know a few kids before school starts.
Practice Social Skills
Practice social scenarios with your child. Simple things such as introducing themselves, asking to play a game or share a toy and asking the teacher for help. This will give your child confidence in the classroom.
Be Positive
If you are nervous about your child’s first day of school, your child will be. Children often take cues from their parents and caregivers, so exhibiting confidence and optimism will help ease their fears.
Create a Morning Routine
Start creating a morning routine at least a week in advance. Have your child help make breakfast, let them decide what to wear and set aside time for a calming activity before you take them to school. This routine will help your child feel secure and ready for the day ahead.
Practice Saying Goodbye
Practicing brief periods of separation in the weeks leading up to the first day. Arrange playdates or short stays with relatives or close friends to help your kindergartener become more comfortable being away from home.
Saying Goodbye at the Door
On the first day of kindergarten don’t linger at the door. Put a smile on your face and say goodbye with a reminder of what time you will be picking them up. You can cry in the car. Don’t sneak away as that will cause even more anxiety.
Be Patient
Some kids transition seamlessly to kindergarten. Others need time to adjust. Be patient — separation anxieties are normal and will pass. Before you know it, they will be well on the way to a positive educational experience.
Balmoral homes are built for the 21st century and beyond. Homes come with enhanced home automation features designed to make your life comfortable, efficient and enjoyable. However, simply owning these gadgets is not enough. To truly reap the benefits, you need to know how to maximize their potential. Here are some tips:
Check Your Wiring
You can’t optimize your smart home technology if your wiring is out of date. All Balmoral homes are built with the latest Cat 6 wiring, allowing you to make the most of your home technology now and in the future.
Your Network Matters
Smart home devices are connected to your Wi-Fi router which in turn runs off your broadband internet connection. You need a strong, reliable provider to ensure your system doesn’t go down when you need it the most. Balmoral residents benefit from the Xfinity fiber distribution network which allows you to control devices easily and quickly when you aren’t at home.
Your Hub is Your Friend
Integrating new home technology optimizes the performance of all your devices. Doing so can save you money and optimize your bandwidth. A smart hub like the Honeywell Tuxedo Touch included in Balmoral homes also allows you to control all your devices from a single app on your phone or tablet.
Consider Upgrades
Basic home automation systems usually include a smart thermostat, lights, door locks and garage door openers. You can upgrade these systems at your builder’s design center. A key aspect of this is creating a cohesive ecosystem. Choose products that are compatible with popular smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit. This will allow you to control multiple devices through a single interface and automate various tasks.
Get to Know Your Voice Assistant
Digital voice assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google Home allow you to control your home technology with your voice. Familiarize yourself with how they work. Most allow you to set up routines and skills. These are a series of pre-programmed commands that can control multiple devices. A “wake up” command set up for a certain time can turn on your alarm, open the blinds and brew your coffee.
Enhance Your Home Security
Balmoral homes are prewired with the latest electronic monitoring system allowing you to install smart security cameras, doorbell cameras and smart locks to monitor and control access to your home remotely. Alerts and notifications are sent to your phone or tablet. It’s worth upgrading the base system to ensure your comfort and peace of mind.
Stay Updated
Stay informed about firmware updates and new releases for your devices. Embrace upgrades to take advantage of improved functionality, security patches and compatibility with the latest innovations. Many devices are set to automatically update but you can turn this feature on or off depending on your preferences.
Connect with Balmoral
Unlock the full potential of new home technology by making the move to Balmoral. Visit today to learn whyBalmoral homes are the smart choice.
If you think moving to Balmoral means you won’t be able to shop at your favorite stores, think again. Balmoral’s central location puts everything from grocery stores to discount shops within easy reach. Here’s a list of our favorites:
One Stop Shop
20777 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-446-1081
9451 FM 1960 Bypass
Humble, TX 77338
281-540-8838
9665 Fm 1960 Bypass Road W
Humble, TX 77338
281-548-1211
Groceries
9475 FM 1960 Bypass Road W
Humble, TX 77338
281–973–5089
6900 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX 77346
833-478-1007
For Your Home
20050 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
832-204-2660
20416 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-706-8937
18880 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-706-8453
Clothes and More
20755 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-548-9970
20420 Highway 59 North
Humble, TX 77338
281-446-7747
9470 FM 1960 Bypass Road W
Humble, TX 77338
281-319-4582
7055 FM 1960 East
Humble, TX 77346
281-812-5988
Home Improvement
20360 Highway 59
Humble, TX 77338
281-540-2400
7355 FM 1960 Road E
Humble, TX 77346
281-812-2280
Sporting Goods
20131 U.S. 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-713-9589
9470 FM 1960
Humble, TX 77338
281-964-4760
Arts & Crafts
19653 US Highway 59
Humble, TX 77338
281-446-2118
20424 U.S. 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
346-616-2929
20325 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-540-4612
Fur Babies
20518 Highway 59
Humble, TX 77338
281-540-1274
19615 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-318-4004
Books
9743 FM 1960 Bypass Rd W
Humble, TX 77338
281-540-3950
20131 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-540-3060
Electronics
20408 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
832-445-2259
Discount Stores
19659 U.S. 59
Humble, TX 77338
281-540-7014
7815 FM 1960 Road W
Humble, TX 77338
281-318-2150
7130 FM 1960
Humble, TX 77346
281-812-9199
Liquor
9805 FM 1960 Bypass Road W
Humble, TX 77338
281-548-1301
19322 U.S. 59
Humble, TX 77338
281-540-7202
Shopping Malls
20131 Highway 59 N
Humble, TX 77338
281-446-6626
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without fireworks. Fortunately for Balmoral residents, they aren’t hard to find — alongside games, food, music and more. Which one should you choose? Here are our favorites.
4-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 4
$10 adults, children 5 and under free
The musically choreographed “Texas-sized” fireworks show is less than 30 minutes from Balmoral! This year’s musical guests include Chris Young, Yola, TMF and more. There will also be lawn games, rides, a kids’ zone and an exclusive Space City Experience provided by NASA.
5-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 4
Free admission
Valley Ranch Town Center’s annual patriotic extravaganza returns with a hot dog-eating contest, Little Patriots play zone, a car show, live music, food trucks and vendors. The spectacular fireworks display begins at 9:40 p.m.
5-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 4
Free admission
There will be food, fun and fireworks at the Jimmy Burke Activity Center. Team up for the corn hole tournament ($10 per team of 2). Live music begins at 7 p.m. Fireworks begin around 9:15.
4-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 4
Free admission
Live music takes center stage while families enjoy food, hayrides and lots of vendors. The fireworks start around 9:15 p.m.
Kingwood’s July 4th Family Games Festival
3-9 p.m. Tuesday, July 4
Free admission
Head to Town Center Park Kingwood for a substantial celebration featuring craft vendors, food trucks, inflatables and live music. The evening ends not with fireworks but an incredible laser show.
Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza
The Woodlands
6-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 4
Free admission
Several locations around The Woodlands will be letting freedom ring, but the main attraction takes place adjacent to Northshore Park at 9:30 p.m. Before the big event, there will be face painting, balloon art, concessions, live music and more. Secondary displays will take place at Town Green Park, the Waterway Square District near Timberloch Place and Waterway Avenue, and Rob Fleming Park in the Village of Creekside Park.
Tomball’s July 4th Celebration & Street Fest
4-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 4
Free admission
The City of Tomball is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its patriotic birthday party with one of the biggest Independence Day events in northwest Harris County. Come out for live music, food, vendors, cool zone, kids’ zone, tribute to active-duty military and veterans and a giant aerial fireworks display starting at 9:30 p.m.
When it comes to a new home, everyone has a dream. Realistically, no home can match it. You can get close if you prioritize your wants and needs. How do you do that? Let us show you.
Defining Needs
How do you differentiate wants and needs? By understanding what they are. Needs are the basic features and necessities crucial for your daily life and well-being. Needs include the right number of bedrooms and baths for your family, a backyard if you have children or pets and a location that isn’t too far from work.
Defining Wants
Wants are the things you consider luxuries. Things you can reasonably do without if you must make a choice between a home that meets all your needs and one that you would have to stretch your budget to afford. Think things such as pools, a waterfront view or a fireplace.
Why Differentiate?
Differentiating between your wants and needs makes home shopping easier. If you know what you need, it’s easier to eliminate homes that don’t fit. You can view homes that have everything you need, which then allows you to see if those homes have what you want. If you decide to use a Realtor, a list of wants and needs will help them refine your home search. It will also keep you on budget.
Establish a Budget
A budget keeps you from adding upgrades and options that you may want but can’t realistically afford. Set a budget based on your income, savings and financial obligations. If you are planning to purchase a new build home in a community like Balmoral, consider how much of your budget you can afford to spend on upgrades.
Assess Your Lifestyle
Assess how you live now and how you want to live in the future. If you have a big family, you might need a home with more square footage and bedrooms. If the schools are mediocre where you live now, moving to a community with better schools could be a priority. Think about the things you want that could be sacrificed. If the home doesn’t have a pool, could you put one in? Does the community you are building in have a pool? Balmoral has a beautiful lagoon and pool so you might not need a backyard pool at all.
Be Prepared to Compromise
If you have done a good job prioritizing your wants and needs, you will be able to make compromises. Something you defined as a need could be a want you are willing to let go of. The home might not be exactly what you want now, but it could be in the future if you think you can remodel.
Talk to Your Builder
The advantage of building a home from the ground up is you are more likely to be able to get your needs and at least some of your wants. Balmoral builders offer dozens of floor plans. Once you’ve picked the base plan that fits your needs, you can talk about wants. If your budget allows, add a fireplace, extend the backyard or get that media room you covet. Many builders offer upgrades as incentives which means your wants could be within your budget.
Choose Balmoral
Choosing to build your home in Balmoral is an easy way to get the home of your dreams. You can choose a builder and floor plan. As a bonus, you get a community with incredible amenities near great schools, plenty of shopping and dining options and friendly neighbors. It’s the best way to get everything you need and lots of what you want.