It’s an exciting time for students of all ages as they look forward to new classes, activities and friends. It’s an exciting time for parents, too. Although life is still very busy, there is more of a consistent schedule again. How can you use this time to teach your children?

Organization

You can include your children in your shopping plans for school supplies and new clothing. Most families with elementary-aged children will have a supply list from the school. They are also available in stores. Preschoolers may not have a supply list, but will enjoy buying something new like a new t-shirt for the first day, or a special notebook for drawing or work. Most students will need a backpack, although this might not appear on the school list.

You can make this a positive exciting learning experience by reading the list and store ads together and writing down what you will need to buy. Many retail stores are now having special sales for the beginning of the school year. This is a good opportunity to help your child understand the importance of printed information and learn about costs, budgets, and price comparisons.

Economics

Although there is a limited budget, you may want to involve your children in discussion and decision making as often as possible to teach them economics. There are opportunity costs. If they buy one thing there will not be enough for another. They might want to make that special purchase from their own piggy bank.

This is an exciting activity for most kids and helps to build positive attitudes about starting a new school year.

Some families may be unable to purchase the suggested supplies. There are often backpack programs through churches, the Salvation Army, and St. Vincent De Paul.

Prepare for Study

What else can families do to support their children’s education? It helps to have a special spot with good lighting for writing, drawing and working. This can be a desk, small table or place at the dining room table. Help your child organize this space with some home supplies like paper, crayons and pencils and storage box. You can label boxes for papers that children take home to check their progress and note what needs reviewing at home. Mark backpacks, jackets and later winter gloves with last names. Have a place in your house to drop off backpacks. If you have room, hooks work well. Make a note to check them every day. Also plan a wall or a place on the refrigerator to display pictures, notices and good papers from school.