A Back to School Guide

Each July we are bombarded by the ads: Back to School Sale! School Supplies Here!, Back to School Fashions on Sale Now! And, as much as children everywhere would like to ignore the inevitable, the new school year is upon us again.

Here are some tips to make the school year begin smoothly for you and your children:

Buying School Supplies

Consult your school's supply list. Don't try to "wing it" and guess what your child will need. You should be able to find the supply list on your school's website, and many retailers post supply lists for area schools near the school supplies.

Often the lists will note certain brands of scissors, pencils, etc., and ask for folders and notebooks in specific colors to help your child get organized. After many years of working with children, teachers learn which brands of colored markers dry out quickly and which kinds of pencils get chewed up in the pencil sharpener so try to procure the suggested items.

As much as I love the dollar store, I must advise you to resist the temptation to purchase off-brand crayons, glue sticks and scissors. Crayola crayons, Elmer's glue sticks, and Fiskars scissors are definitely worth the extra pennies they cost.

Don't purchase items that aren't necessary (fancy erasers, the 100 pack of crayons, pencil sharpeners, etc.) as these kinds of objects can be distracting and often turn into toys rather than tools in the hands of young students.

Buy a few extra school supplies to keep at home for use when doing homework.

Don't wait too long to buy your child's school supplies as those items on every local school's supply list tend to go fast, and be sure to purchase a sturdy school bag or backpack to carry all those supplies.

When you're buying school supplies, pick up a Sharpie permanent marker to write your child's name on all his or her supplies.

Keep your receipt. Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota allow a tax deduction or credit for school supplies purchased. (http://www.ncsl.org/programs/educ/schoolchoicetaxdeduction.htm)

Buying School Clothes

Like the weeds in our flower beds, children grow at an alarming rate during the summer months. Shoes that fit last spring may now feel like instruments of torture, and jeans that were just the right length could reveal the owner's ankles to the world come fall. Check to see that these basic items still fit and, if not, replace them.

If your child is not yet able to tie his or her own tennis shoes, now is the time to begin tying lessons. If you are unable to teach your child how to tie her own shoes before school starts, don't assume you can just tie them tightly in the morning before you send her off to school. Imagine how much time a teacher of young children spends tying her students' shoes over and over each day! Invest in shoes without laces (velcro and elastic straps work well) until your child is able to handle this task herself.

While it's tempting to buy your child's back to school wardrobe now, resist the urge. Those new fall clothes are still at full price. The first weeks of school normally bring warm temperatures, and your child's summer wardrobe will serve them well until the weather turns. Point out to your child that it would be best to wait until school begins to see what their classmates are wearing and then make that trip to the mall.

If your child's school requires uniforms, you will want to stock up early on the basic pieces. Look for a roomy fit to accommodate future growth.

Brush Up on Academics

It's not too late to halt the academic summer loss that children typically experience during the summer months. If it's been a while since your last trip to the library or your local bookstore, make a visit there and then schedule a dedicated daily reading time into the last lazy days of summer.

Practice Makes Perfect

If your child walks to school, practice walking the path with him or her. Take the walk each evening after dinner until he or she is comfortable with the route.

Taking Care of Business

The summer months are also a good time to take care of dental, eye doctor and sports physical appointments.

Get Organized

Establish a spot somewhere near your home's entry for storage of your child's backpack, jacket and shoes. Encourage your child to place their homework, newsletters and notes from the teacher in a designated spot each evening. Establish a station for the completion of your child's homework. Place a box or plastic container containing erasers, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, colored pencils, paper, etc., at the homework station.

Establish Routines

For at least the week before school begins, have your child go to bed and get up according to their school year schedule to ease the transition into the start of the school year. Re-establish good hygiene (showering, tooth brushing) habits which may have been relaxed through the summer months.

Meet the Teacher

If your school holds back-to-school conferences, be sure to attend. The conferences give you and your child a chance to meet the teacher, see his classroom and put his school supplies in his new desk. My school district holds these conferences on the first two days of the new school year for grades K-6. The conference enables you and your child to start the year on a positive note. If your district doesn't offer back-to-school conferences, suggest the practice to the administration at your school.

If conferences aren't an option, take advantage of the opportunity to explore the halls, cafeteria and other areas of the school with which your child isn't familiar when enrolling your child for the coming academic year.

Preparation Pays Off

Getting the school year off to a good start is in everyone's best interests. Preparation can mean the difference between anxiety and anticipation for the new year...for both you and your child.

Sources: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/educ/schoolchoicetaxdeduction.htm