52 The Queens Courier • back to school • august 29, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶back to school Go healthy when kids go home The hours between the end of the school day and bedtime are a golden opportunity for parents to help children build healthy and safe habits that will last a lifetime. Here are some simple and free ways to incorporate messages about eating well, staying safe and avoiding injuries while kids complete homework, participate in team sports or recreational activities, and relax with friends. Personal safety Some kids engage in team sports after school. Others participate in school-sponsored extracurricular clubs. Still others go home and spend time alone until parents are finished working. Regardless of how a child spends the hours after school, personal safety should be important and a topic of conversation between parents and kids. Consider how your child will spend their after-school hours, and work together to develop a list of relevant safety tactics. For example, if your child plays a sport, discuss ways to avoid injury and make sure they always wear appropriate safety gear. For students who will arrive home before parents, set ground rules, such as go straight home and check in via phone call or text once they arrive. Remind children not to open the door to strangers or answer phone calls from numbers they can’t identify. Safekids.org offers a wealth of safety tips that can be applied to virtually every child’s after-school situation. Better snacking Snacking is actually a very healthy habit when done smartly. Teach kids to reach for a sensible and filling snack to help keep their minds alert for homework and their bodies fueled for after-school activities. Encourage kids to use portion control and choose healthier snacks, like fresh fruits or veggies or fat-free options like pretzels. Portion-controlled, pre-packaged choices are convenient and healthy options for after-school snacking. Try a low-fat combination of pretzels with apple slices or carrot sticks, which are more stimulating to a child’s brain than something sweet and fatty. Follow a schedule that builds in fun and eases homework headaches Naturally, all children want to work some fun into their day, whether it’s before or after homework is complete. Since most kids thrive with guidance and structure, talk to your child about creating a schedule or “to-do” list for after-school time, and make sure it includes a combination of fun activities, snack time and homework. Keep in mind that every child is different. Some children need to run around before starting homework, while others do best when saving the fun time for last. Screen time Once kids have completed homework and gotten a little physical activity, many may prefer to spend hours online, playing video games or watching TV. Finding a balance can be tough. Many parents take a “homework first” approach, having kids complete school assignments before they’re allowed the treat of screen time. Also consider parental control software to set limits on when kids can use the PC, laptop or tablet and to restrict when and where they can go online. You can also encourage kids to use technology in a manner that stimulates their brain, such as reading a book on a tablet, working on a brain puzzle on the computer, or practicing their keyboard or typing skills. Many schools will provide a list of fun websites kids can access at home or the library to reinforce skills taught in school. Courtesy BPT Photo courtesy BPT Money-saving tips to help you this season As summer winds down, many are heading into a busy buying season with Labor Day soirees and preparing for backto school. With the average family expected to spend an average of $634.78 on backto school shopping this year, according to the National Retail Federation, consumers are seeking cost saving strategies to ensure they are getting the most bang for the buck. With more access to information thanks to online resources and smartphones, the power is in purchasers’ hands. In fact, the National Retail Federation forecast revealed that approximately 36 percent of shoppers will do more comparative shopping online for back-toschool 2013. Other ways people are cashing in on the savings is going back to the tried and true - bulk shopping. Expert couponer Kelly Snyder of Kansas City Mamas, says volume buying and storing goods correctly has made a positive impact on her family’s finances. However, one important thing to keep in mind is what to do with all those purchases you bring home. “The right storage is essential when purchasing in bulk,” said Snyder. “Make sure you have enough storage space and invest in products and appliances that keep you organized and help preserve the integrity of your purchases.” Snyder along with fellow top savings bloggers Briana Carter, of Bargain Briana, and Lauren Ortiz of Saving Addiction, offer their top tips to help shoppers best navigate through the sea of savings. • Don’t bypass a budget. Know how much you’ve spent in order to see your savings. By keeping a monthly budget, you’ll never pay too much. • Don’t create a storage war. Being organized will help keep track of what you have and prevent wasting food or needless purchases. For perishables, dedicate one shelf each in your refrigerator for beverages, produce and leftovers. A large refrigerator, like the Kenmore Elite with large freezer capacity, allows you to stock up on items on sale. • Get rewarded for loyalty. Join loyalty programs of establishments you frequent the most. Eventually your purchasing power will return major perks. • Tracking gets you a treat. Create a price book to record costs for items over a six-week period. Make a purchase only when prices hit their low. You’ll optimize savings and often won’t need a coupon. • Increase your buying IQ with a smartphone. Download money-saving and grocery coupon apps like SavingStar and Coupons.com, as well as apps for rewards programs like Shop Your Way. • Remember coupons are king. While many still enjoy clipping paper coupons, downloadable eCoupons are more popular than ever. Now, eCoupons are more sophisticated by pushing savings based on style and shopping habits like those from ShopYourWay. com. Sears is the first retailer to offer eCoupons that are redeemable in-store, online and from a mobile device. In addition, they are redeemable both in-store and online. This will not only save money, but save time too. • Go generic or store brands. It’s always better to go with a store brand if you don’t have a coupon for a namebrand item. While these versions are cheaper, they often offer similar quality. • Serve what’s on sale. Buying sale items in bulk allow you to pre-cook meals in one day to be served over the week. Courtesy BPT
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