BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS

With all of the back-to-school sales at major department stores, chances are you have your kids fully clothed for the fall season. There is reason, though, to set aside some of your clothes budget so that you can save more money later. September not only means back-to-school time, but it is also clearance time for summer clothes. There are plenty of bargains right now.

Instead of spending $10 to $20 on a summer shirt in March, why not spend half that now while the prices are low? There may not be as much of a selection, but you should be able to find at least a few acceptable articles at a far reduced price. You'll be glad you did when you're going over your clothing budget next spring.

While it might be a little tough for your kids to hold off buying that new sweater or pair of jeans, it will give them the chance to see what everyone else is wearing so that they can check out the latest trends before making a purchase.

Plus, it is usually so hot the first few weeks of school that they’ll still be in their summer shorts.

GETTING ORGANIZED TO LEARN

By Kim Ann Zimmermann

How do you help your child grasp the importance of good organization so assignments are finished on time, study time is maximized and he or she avoids leaving a trail of papers around the house?

“Teachers agree that a child’s lack of organization dramatically impacts homework, study skills and test scores,” said parenting expert Stacy DeBroff, who surveyed hundreds of teachers and parents for her recent book, “The Mom Book Goes to School: Insider Tips to Ensure Your Child Thrives in Elementary and Middle School.”

“Many kids lag behind because basic self-management and organizational skills are lacking and you might see the child struggle with concepts like planning ahead, prioritizing responsibilities and managing time effectively,” she says.

With today’s overcrowded classrooms and focus on standardized testing, DeBroff says educators tell her that they don’t always have the time to teach kids the basics of organization.

Backpacks are one of the top organizational challenge faced by children and parents, she notes. “Sometimes, it seems as if the backpack is just a black hole,” she says. She suggests backpacks with lots of compartments to help keep supplies in place. She also suggests, if possible, buying an extra set of books for home so that kids aren’t lugging heavy backpacks back and forth to class.

While the backpack needs an organizational makeover, so does the computer. DeBroff suggests having individual folders on the desktop for each class. A flash memory card with virus protection can also help ease the sharing of files with classmates and prevent spreading a virus when using another computer, she says.

While having a system to manage files on the computer can help get the kids get down to business faster, keeping supplies handy can also help avoid procrastination, she notes. “This will keep them from running for the stapler, paper, glue or whatever to avoid doing the work,” she says.

MORE TIPS ON OUR WEB SITE
Office Depot has compiled a variety of suggestions and useful tips in an “Organized to Learn” brochure developed in conjunction with DeBroff. For a copy, visit our Web site at Back-to-school TIPS .pdf.

WIN A BACKPACK WITH COOL ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS
Students who submit a 150-word essay about how they balance schoolwork, sports, friends and other activities will be entered into a contest to win a backpack filled with school supplies. Write to editor@unioncountyvoice.com to enter.

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