OUCH! Your Backpack Is Killing Me!

Florida's tax-free holiday begins today, so you know it's back-to-school season. We’re out there buying school supplies, clothes, and the very necessary things our kids need to begin the new school year. One of the most important of those items is the perennial backpack. 

It’s used to carry your child’s weight in books, folders, binders, notebooks, permission slips, teacher’s notes, calculators, pens, pencils, lunches, keys, and cell phones. Your child may also carry a laptop PC or tablet. Kids involved in sports will stuff water bottles, sports equipment, (dirty!) clothes and shoes into it.

So, what do you need to consider when choosing a backpack for school?  Three things: fashion, fit, and function (not necessarily in that order).  Style is an important feature of a school backpack, especially to elementary and middle-schoolers. Your child will want a bag that is fashionable and looks good. High school students have different needs, and will be more selective about the specific features of the backpack.  And you just want to be sure you get the best value for your money.  

Here are some tips that may help . . . 

FASHION   

• Backpacks made from recycled materials are very fashionable right now. An eco-friendly bag may be a good choice.
• They’ll be wearing the bag every day. Will they want their backpack to match, or at least not clash with, their school clothes? While prints are lots of fun, they may want to consider solid colors too.
• What kind of bag will best handle the kind of load your child will be carrying?
• Messenger bags have one wide cross-body strap, and may be considered more fashionable than a traditional backpack. 
• A bag with two shoulder straps will allow for better weight distribution, and many have waist straps that help distribute the weight of very heavy loads. 
• A wheeled backpack may be a good option to consider if your child routinely carries a heavy load, even though they can sometimes be difficult to navigate in crowded areas.  Be sure your child can handle the weight of the bag when it’s full of books, including the added weight of the handle, frame, and wheels.

FUNCTION

• Take a good look at the size of the bag – will it accommodate the size and types of objects your student will be carrying?  Does the main pocket have enough room for the number of books and binders your child will be carrying at one time? Are there separate pockets for lunch, gym clothes, and cell phone?  A protective pocket for the laptop or tablet? 
• The fabric the bag is made of should be durable, breathable and lightweight. Synthetic fabrics are more lightweight and water-resistant than natural materials like leather and cotton. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly bag, consider a bag made of a natural fiber, like hemp.  Many backpacks can be machine-washed.
• The zippers, hardware and pocket closures should be sturdy and easy to close, made of quality, heavy-duty materials.
• Some manufacturers offer guarantees on their backpacks - make it a point to look for these great deals!

FIT    

• Your bag should have wide, padded, adjustable straps so you can position the bag against the strongest part of your back, about two inches above the waist.  Some bags have added padding on the back to make it more comfortable for the user.
• If you shop for your backpack online, you’ll usually have the widest selection and the best prices. Online sellers like Amazon and Zappos have a wide selection of bags and often offer free shipping.
• It's best to shop for your backpack in brick-and-mortar stores so your child can try on the bag, make sure it fits well, and examine it inside and out to understand all its special features. Luggage stores, sporting goods stores and outdoors retailers often have specialized salespeople who can help you select a bag with a proper fit.

The bottom line? Your child may not agree, but they do need your help with this important buying decision.   Happy Shopping!

Help Your Child Conquer their Back-to-School Fears

When you think back to when you started your last “new” job, do you remember how you felt on your first day?  More than a little anxious about how things would go - praying the commute would be problem-free - hoping your coworkers would be easy to get along with - wondering what your boss would be like - and just hoping to fit in. 

Now, imagine what your child must feel like going into a new grade - or a new school. They have the same kinds of worries you would have. Here are some things you can do to help them through this time of transition.

Use books to start conversations. Go to the library or local bookstore to get some back-to-school stories. You’ll find there are many to select from, geared to many different age levels.  You can use these stories to talk to your child about any fears they may have, and help turn those fears to anticipation and excitement. 

Tour the school.  If you child is switching to a new school, a visit during the weeks before school begins can be a big comfort.  Call the school office and ask if you can schedule a tour, or just come for an informal visit. Learn where homeroom is.  Walk through the library. Play on the playground. Find the bathrooms! Those things make a big difference.

Meet the teacher.  Take advantage of any opportunity for your child to meet their teacher before school begins.  If you can find a picture of the teacher on the school web site, post it on the fridge so the teacher’s face becomes familiar to your child.

Start the transition ahead of time.  Many kids have ignored their sleep schedule during the summer months.  The weeks before school begins is a good time for the whole family to ease back into the school-year schedule to ensure your child gets enough sleep.

Practice!  Let your child organize their school supplies and a work area in a quiet place at home. And if they’ll be using a combination lock, make sure they practice opening and locking it until they have that skill down pat.  Another valuable organizational skill is the ability to use a planner.  Even first grade isn’t too early to use a planner – they have them for children of all ages.  If the school doesn’t require that they use one, get one for your child and help them learn how to use it: write down every homework assignment, every upcoming test, and every project.

Find friends.  Try to get the class list in advance or find out which teacher your child will have. If you find that your child's best friend isn't in her new class, arrange a play date with someone who is.  If your child is attending a new school and doesn’t know anyone, talk to them about how to make friends, and what it means to be a good friend.  You can role play to help them learn how to begin conversations and initiate play activities.

Address the gaps.  Finally, if you find that your child has missed some early foundational skills, there may be gaps in reading, writing or math.  At the #TutoringClubJacksonville, we identify these skill gaps with our diagnostic evaluations, and develop a customized plan for your child to get them back on track quickly.  Call us at 268-8556 to enroll your child today!

School Supplies - longing for the good old days!

In honor of Throw Back Thursday (#TBT) we have been contemplating the many things that are different about being an elementary school student now versus the late 60's/early 70's.

Who remembers this?

The school supply box was filled with pencils, crayons, an eraser, scissors, and ruler that the individual student would use. That was just about it!  Parents and students were responsible for keeping up with their supplies and this box was kept in the desk.

Today we have to buy the aforementioned supplies, plus hand sanitizer, white board markers, Deskjet ink, batteries, Kleenex, copy paper, colored pens, glue sticks, and the list goes on and on. Not to mention the specific binder sizes, specific folder colors (with and without prongs), college rule vs. wide rule notebook paper, etc.

We just yearn for a little more simplicity!  Yay for #TBT and fun memories.  And hold on - one day these will be the good old days!