Hey! Where’s My Backpack?

It’s that time again. After a summer of sleeping in and flexible schedules, the alarm clock must once more be set. Whether your child is starting kindergarten or their senior year, getting ready for back to school can be stressful. Below are some suggestions to help both you and your child get off to a good start:

* First,why not take the guessing out of what school supplies your child might need? Check out the school website to see if the teacher has posted required supplies.

* If your child is younger, talk to him or her about what to expect on the first day of school. Be enthusiastic about the coming year. If you are excited and confident, your child will be, too.

* With younger children, saying goodbye can be hard for both parent and child. Acknowledge to your child that it’s hard to say good-bye, and remind them of the fun and exciting day and year that lies ahead. Most importantly, try to hold back your tears until your child is out of sight. After that, go ahead and let them flow!

* Nothing can send your morning routine into a tailspin more than missing socks or the dreaded wail of “What am I going to wear?” Try doing laundry the weekend before and then planning outfits for the week. Doing so will alleviate much of the stress of the hectic school week.

* Make lunches the night before. If your child is older, he or she can do this themselves. Younger children will enjoy helping mom or dad pack their lunch. It’s an activity that you can do together that again saves you time and stress in the morning.

* Finally, on the legal side, remember that if you are paying child support, you cannot deduct from your support obligation costs that you incur for back to school clothing or supplies. Likewise, if you are receiving child support, you cannot expect reimbursement outside of the child support payment for those costs. Of course, this is subject to any written agreements in your support order to the contrary.

Best regards to all the parents and children! We at SK&H wish you the best for a successful school year!