WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES AUGUST 23, 2018 15
BACK TO SCHOOL
5 Ways to Squash Back-to-School Stress
Heading back to school is exciting
for both kids and parents,
but with all the thrill and
anticipation, there can be quite a bit
of stress, too. As a parent, you can
approach the impending school year
with a positive attitude and these
tricks can help minimize stress and
give your kids extra confi dence when
heading into the classroom.
Lifestyle expert and mother of
two Jeannette Kaplun recommends
these tips:
Start adjusting bedtimes before school
starts. It's common for bedtime rules to
be broken in the summer. However, an
abrupt transition to early mornings can
lead to stress and irritability. The National
Sleep Foundation recommends implementing
earlier bedtimes two weeks
before school starts and setting the alarm
a bit earlier each morning for a smooth
transition to the fi rst day of school.
Curb the summer slide. Screen time
isn't just for passing time; leverage
technology to keep the reading skills
your kids learned in the classroom
sharp all summer long. A device like
the Fire Kids Edition tablet from Amazon
is built from the ground up for
kids with a two-year worry-free guarantee,
a kid-proof case and a one-year
subscription to Amazon FreeTime
Unlimited, giving kids access to 15,000
kid-friendly books, videos, educational
apps and games. Parental controls
like Learn First encourage learning
before playtime and allow you to set
screen time limits to help get kids
back into a routine for the school year.
Additionally, STEM toys and games
can keep math and science top of mind
during the summer months and help
kids excel during the school year.
Dress for success. There's a reason
grownups tend to dress up for special
events - when you look good, you feel
good. Give your kids that same boost by
helping them choose a special outfi t for
the fi rst day of school that he or she feels
comfortable and confi dent wearing.
Shopping for clothes is an opportunity
for your child to express individuality,
so have fun with it. For added stress
relief, lay out the complete ensemble
the night before and have your child
try it on to head off any concerns. If
the routine works, try making it part
of your nightly routine for stress-free
mornings throughout the school year.
Simplify the shopping experience.
Every back-to-school season comes
with classroom supply lists and new
wardrobe needs. A one-stop shop retailer
like Amazon lets you complete
your shopping on your own schedule,
and its back-to-school store off ers deals
and a wide selection, making it easy to
fi nd everything from must-have items
like binders, backpacks and shoes to
fun gear such as glitter glue, donut
erasers and emoji stickers that allow
kids to express their personalities.
"Back-to-school shopping doesn't
have to cause anxiety," Kaplun said.
Courtesy Family Features
"By shopping online at Amazon from
your phone, tablet or computer, you
can buy everything you need without
having to fi nd a parking spot, tracking
down a sales associate to help you fi nd
your child's size or standing in line to
pay, saving you precious time. Plus,
Prime members receive unlimited,
free two-day shipping on more than
100 million items all-year long."
Share the excitement. It's perfectly
normal for parents and kids to
feel anxious about the new school
year. Instead of revealing your own
apprehension, share your favorite
memories from your time in your
child's upcoming grade. Ask your
kids what they're most excited for
and what they're a little nervous
about and come up with solutions
together.
Get a jump start on your stressfree
transition back to school with
more tips and resources at amazon.
com/backtoschool.