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Every year parents spend signifi cant amounts of money on school expenses. While there’s not much parents can do about tuition, there are ways to save on additional expenses, including clothing. Restocking a student’s wardrobe can be costly, but savvy Moms and Dads can lessen the blow in a va-riety of ways.Although students may not yet be ready to head back to class, both parents and children may not be looking forward to school shopping for a number of reasons. * Expenses: Statistics posted on Chiff.com indicate that $7.2 billion were spent on school clothing in 2009 for American students. In Canada, statistics show that nearly $450 million were spent on boy’s and girl’s clothing and accessories in 2008. Shop-ping for school items can be a big expense, one that’s especially tough to handle after paying for a summer vacation or fi nancing kids’ stays at camp.* Time: Crowded stores can make shopping stress-ful, especially when kids (and adults) would rather be spending time elsewhere.* Intimidation: Facing a store full of stocked racks and shelves can make even the most avid shopper feel a little anxious. Parents face decisions about choosing clothing that is both acceptable to the school and trendy enough for their kids. This can put added pressure on shoppers.* Cranky kids: While some children may relish the idea of picking out a new wardrobe, others may be-come disgruntled by heading to the store having to try on different things and spend time away from friends.Whether school shopping is fun or feared, it’s a ne-cessity for parents and kids alike. Here are eight tips to make the process a bit easier and help par-ents save money as well.1. Assess what is already on hand. Shopping doesn’t have to mean creating an entirely new wardrobe from scratch. It often means supplementing exist-ing clothing with new pieces that can make things

look fresh. Unless a child has entirely outgrown pants and shirts from last year, chances are there will be a number of pieces that are still usable and appropriate. Take a day or two to go through kids’ wardrobes and set aside items that can be used for school. Make a list of new items to purchase.2. Establish a budget. Set a limit as to how much will be spent on each child and don’t stray over that limit. Around $150 to $200 may be adequate to pick up a few basics. Taking out cash from the bank and spending only what is in hand may make shoppers less likely to overspend or turn to credit cards for purchases.3. Stock up on the basics. New undergarments and socks will be needed. Aim for about 10 to 12 pairs of each. This also may be a good time to purchase pre-adolescent girls a training bra or sports bra to provide some support.4. Buy new shoes. Shoes are one element of a ward-robe that may need to be entirely new. Active chil-dren tend to wear out shoes quickly. One pair of sneakers and one pair of dressier shoes, like ox-fords, or ballet fl ats for girls, may be adequate.5. Shop sales. If the weather is warm, it’s possible to save money on clearance T-shirts and shorts that stores are putting on sale to make room for next season’s items. Don’t fi ll a student’s wardrobe with heavy sweatshirts or sweaters at this juncture. Lay-ering options are good because students can adjust accordingly to feel comfortable.6. Intermingle designer with discount. Not every item in a child’s wardrobe has to be trendy. Layer-ing items, such as T-shirts, can often be picked up for a discount in stores like Target or Walmart or Old Navy. Outer items, like jeans or some shirts, can be picked up from the trendier stores. Shop their sales and see if they offer coupons by signing up to loyalty Web sites.7. Go early in the day. Although it may be a chal-lenge get the kids up and dressed to visit stores when they’re in vacation mode, arriving early

means thinner crowds and refreshed children. Kids who are tired or hungry can be prone to meltdowns. Pack snacks and drinks to be on the safe side. Some stores offer early bird special sales, which can make shopping once the doors open even more advanta-geous.8. Do some online shopping, too. Once the children have gone to bed for the evening, do some unin-terrupted online shopping. Comparison shop and fi gure out if buying online is a good deal after fac-toring in shipping costs.School shopping signals the end of vacation time. Make the most of the opportunity to save and re-duce stress when shopping.

8 ways to save on school expenses

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Today’s kids are busier than ever before. Be it the increasingly competitive nature of scholastic life or the increase of two-income households where kids need something to do other than come directly home after school, children today are much busier than their school-aged counterparts of yesteryear.

While it can be fun and benefi cial for kids to participate in extracurricular activities, fi nding the right fi t isn’t as easy as it sounds. When helping kids fi nd an extracurricular activity, it’s best to consider a host of factors. Especially keep in mind that not all kids are the same with respect to interests. And what was enjoyed by their parents won’t necessar-ily be enjoyed by them.

Getting StartedThe best place to start is to speak to kids about

their interests. Just because Dad loved playing foot-ball doesn’t mean Junior is destined to be a grid-iron great. Kids have their own interests, and those interests can be cultivated with the right extracur-ricular activity. For example, a creative child might enjoy an after-school art class a couple of times per week. Parents should also consider extracurriculars that can help kids grow as people. For instance, a child who’s shy in public but loves hamming it up at home might embrace an after-school theater pro-gram.

Once options have been discussed with kids, take in a session or two before committing to any-thing. The shy youngster might visit the local the-ater program and enjoy it thoroughly, or he or she might decide against it. Either way, a visit will give kids and parents a sense of what the program is like and whether or not it’s the right fi t. When visiting, observe the nature of the program. Is it an encour-aging, vibrant environment? Do the adults and kids involved appear to be having fun?

Get the 411Parents want their kids to be as safe after school

as they are during it. When looking for an extracur-ricular activity, inquire about the staff-to-child ratio and about the staff’s professional background. Any staff-to-child ratio that is greater than 12:1 likely in-dicates a program that is understaffed, which could mean kids won’t get the attention they need. Also, ask for the staff’s references and work history in the fi eld of child care. If certifi cation is necessary or rec-ommended, make sure the staff meets all require-

ments.Parents should also inquire about program costs.

Though many programs are upfront about fees, some have hidden fees that can add up. Such fees can be for uniforms, equipment, class trips, etc. Extra fees don’t have to exclude a program from consideration, but it’s better to know about them in advance than have them come as a surprise.

Consider a Child’s Grade LevelA child’s age and grade level should also be con-

sidered when choosing an extracurricular activity. Consult teachers about fi nding an age-appropriate extracurricular activity. For example, less competi-tive activities that emphasize fun might be more appropriate for kids in kindergarten and the fi rst

grade. For second graders, activities not offered at school, like learning to play an instrument, can help cultivate a child’s interest in a noncompetitive en-vironment. As kids reach third grade and beyond, consider more rules-based activities, including team sports, as kids at that age are more capable of understanding rules and handling losing than younger kids. As children get older and move on to middle school, look for activities that reinforce learning and help develop a young person’s charac-ter, including their ability to interact with others.

When looking for an extracurricular activity for kids, parents should consider a host of factors, in-cluding the child’s interests and age.

BS117017

How to help kids find the right extracurricular activity

Team sports, including baseball, can be a great extracurricular activity once kids are old enough to understand rules and cope with losing.


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Parents have worried about their children since the beginning of time. Such worry is part of being a parent, and parents will worry about things both large and small.

One relatively recent concern for parents involves the Internet. Over the last 10 to 15 years, the Internet has become established as a must-have in homes. Parents go online for a number of reasons, and kids are now often required to use the Internet as part of their schoolwork. But as useful and convenient as the Internet can be, it can also prove dangerous, particularly for young kids. Criminals who prey on children have taken their acts online, counting on kids’ innocent and trusting natures in order to take ad-vantage of children, which can lead to emotional and/or physical harm.

Parents have every right to worry when their kids go online. However, there are ways to safeguard kids from some of the Internet’s ills.

* Emphasize the protection of personal information. Many Web sites ask visitors to fi ll out certain forms when visiting. When discussing the Internet with kids, tell them to inform an adult whenever they visit a Web site that requests they fi ll out a form or questionnaire before continuing to the site. All Web sites must tell their visitors how personal information is used, but kids often cannot understand the privacy policy or will immediately click the “Agree” box below the policy.

Since kids don’t have their own credit cards, protecting personal information should be discussed in terms of popular social networking sites. Caution kids against sharing too much information, which could potentially make them susceptible to online preda-tors.

* Preach caution in chat rooms. Kids can be especially susceptible to the dangers of the Internet when they enter chat rooms. If parents are going to allow kids to enter chat rooms or contribute to online message boards, go over a few basics with them before-hand. First and foremost, tell them to never share their address, full name or phone number with anyone in the chat room. Also, ensure kids never arrange to meet up with anyone from chat rooms. If kids do make a few online friends they want to meet in person, always be sure to accompany them to any such meetings and insist on meeting their new friends’ parents as well. When meetings do take place, they should always be in a public place, such as a library.

* Limit time spent online. The Internet can be a valuable resource, but spending too much time online can be just as detrimental as spending too much time on the couch watching television. Limit the amount of time kids are allowed to spend online. The longer kids are on the computer, the more likely they are to drift toward Web sites where their safety can be compromised. If kids only get a set amount of time to surf the Internet, they’re more likely to visit only those sites they need to and not ones that can put them in harm’s way.

* Keep the computer in the family room. Keeping the family computer in the family room, where Mom and Dad can monitor kids’ online usage without peering over their shoulders, is another way to safeguard kids from the Internet. If kids have their own computers, be it a desktop or laptop, in their bedrooms, then parents might never truly know what their kids are doing online. High schoolers might be able to handle having a computer in their bedrooms, but younger children should be restricted to using the family computer in an area where their Internet habits can be easily monitored.

BS117026

Safety tips for young Web surfers


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