Back to School… It’s Here!!!
Published on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 — View Comments
You’ve probably just settled into your summer routines, and the last thing you want to think about is going back to school. Join the club. If you think that time is flying, you’re not alone, but with many students going back to school in mid-August, the time to think about getting ready is now. And retailers know that as well. If you’ve been shopping lately, you notice that the store shelves are full of Back to School Items, and the National Retail Federation estimates that sales will be up 11 percent this season. That’s good news as economists will be watching spending during this period closely as a potential forecast of Q4 sales.
There are good deals to be had right now as well, as retailers who bought heavily in the early part of the year on reports of an improving economy may be getting cold feet and trying to move inventory.
Yet setting the macro issues aside for a moment, where it really matters to you is in your household. Getting an early start on your Back to School shopping can make it easier and less stressful as well. Here are some tips you may want to consider:
Stuff on “The List”—Particularly for elementary and middle school grades, teachers send lists of products that they expect kids to have. From crayons to pencils, to glue, these basics are standard for virtually every kid. Teachers are often specific about brands, and manufacturers do a lot of marketing and promotion to get their products on the list, but teachers we talk to say that quality and value are their first concerns when specifying products. These products seem to get a little more expensive every year, but remember to keep those receipts because you can deduct up to $1,600 of these expenses per child from kindergarten through 7th grade and up to $2,500 from 7th to 12th grades.
Stuff that’s “Cool”—Here’s where you have a lot of leeway and can allow kids to indulge their own tastes. Such accessories as lunch boxes, knapsacks are ways kids express themselves. Generally kids want new ones of these each year—not just because they wear out from hard use during the school year but because their tastes change. A kid who loved her Dora the Explorer backpack in kindergarten may feel “too big” for that as she enters first grade. Selecting just the right backpack or lunchbox is a big deal, so be sure to allow plenty of time for that.
Lots of schools allow similar amounts of leeway in writing implements, pens, folders, notebooks and so forth. It’s easy for adults to forget how important these things are for kids as one of the ways kids express themselves in school.
Stuff that’s “Hot”—Back to School fashions are equally critical, but with budgets tight and kids growing, managing the wardrobe can be a challenge. Depending on the age of the child, the conversation can be very different. More and more schools are moving towards standardized dress codes—not uniforms per se, but khakis and polos, for example. This can actually be a blessing for budgets, but if your school doesn’t have this kind of structure, with older kids, you can set a budget and allow them to have control over it. However, it’s a good idea to reserve veto power over what’s appropriate.
Stuff that’s tasty—Choosing the lunchbox is a fashion statement. Choosing what goes in it is a health concern. As more and more schools get rid of soda and sugared drinks and try to put an emphasis on healthier food, it’s a good time to think about healthy choices for the school year as well. Take time while you’re more relaxed to discuss a “food strategy” for the year. The best way to get kids to eat a healthy lunch is when the whole family eats healthier food. This is a great time to engage in some goal setting as a family that can make everyone feel better this year.
Stuff that’s tight—As in schedules. Lots of kids are overbooked and overtired—to say nothing of parents who feel like they live in their cars and are wondering how they would look in a chauffer’s uniform. Consider paring down the activities this year so that kids have time to concentrate and, well, be kids. Kids really need a balance of activities that are social, athletic, creative and open-ended. Broad exposure to a variety of different things is great, but as they get older, allowing them to concentrate and specialize in things they’re passionate about.
Stuff that’s fun—Of course there are great toys and tools that kids will want to have. Tune in to MomTV on July 30 from 12-1 EDT, when Jim and I show off some of the best—and give them away.
Back to School is always an exciting time of new beginnings. A little planning, and it can be fun for everyone.
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