A game plan is the best way to organize your back to school shopping list. Check over the list you should have been provided by the school but if you don't have one you can't go wrong with basic supplies and don't forget to take advantage of back-to-school shopping sales! Check your state's sales tax-free days during this time to assure you are shopping at the best time for your family and keep in mind savings is the name of the game!

Sit down with your child and work together and make a list of the basic needs. Keeping your child involved will help keep the expectations of what is needed vs. what is wanted in check. Start off with the list provided by the school and review it together. Spending a little prep time will also teach your child how to organize and practice a valuable lifelong habit.

Follow up:

Don't forget to think about what the classroom needs are and pick up extra post-it notes, #2 pencils, markets, Kleenex or construction paper for the teacher to use in the classroom! It will be greatly appreciated, as many teacher end up paying for Kleenex or supplies when the classroom runs out without possibility of reimbursement.

Cherrie Kilby, Special Education Team Leader, Allen, Texas asks parents to spend more time with their child this year by reading books and magazines. Play and talk with your children and be a role model of the behavior you would wish your child to exhibit at home or away from home. Your child needs more than what can be purchased during back to school shopping ~ they need time with their parents and their family.

Helping children to connect what they are learning at school to real life experiences such as reading for pleasure, working on a report, preparing for a big presentation will help the child to connect what is taught in school to real life experiences. The value of your time spent with your child is priceless!

School supplies are school supplies, #2 pencils, college rule paper, notebooks and such are the same from one year to the next. When it comes to back packs and the trends of the day don't argue with your child in the store when they might say "everyone else has it" but instead prepare your child through planning their school shopping list about the budget you have to spend on the materials that are needed for back to school. Setting priorities and budgets in advance helps the children understand about the basic essentials and to have a voice in the selecting of what is truly needed and will be used. By setting the budget you have taught your child about how to manage money and priorities. You might just find that when his allowance roles around you may find your child thinking twice about how to save and manage their own funds.

Bryan Beene, coach and high school teacher said, "Your child's teacher will appreciate basic supplies! Supplies that make noise or light up are gimmicks that are distracting in the classroom and are unnecessary to get the job of learning done."

Recycle last year’s school supplies! Ask your child if there are packets of index cards, computer paper, markers that can be pulled together to help reduce spending during this back to school season.

Watch for the back to school bargains often found at office supplies stores such as OfficeMax and Office Depot. Load up in bulk on some items such as 5 cent spirals if your child is going to need them for all their classes all year long... then why not go ahead and purchase in bulk and stay ahead of this year’s future needs. And.... if there are any leftover you can save them for next year.

Start early! Keep your supply list with you on our PDA or in your car or purse. Ask your child to hold on to a copy too....and when you are running errands during the summer break pick up a few items along the way.

Your child will need some of the basics; #2 pencils, glue sticks or glue bottles, notebooks, highlighters and index cards. Don't forget about the kids at school whose parent may have lost their job this year. Bring in extra materials for the classroom to share.

Before summer is over set up your school supply area in your home near your child's work space where your child can pull their supplies as they need them throughout the year and allows you viability in advance of the emergency call that the project is due tomorrow morning and there is no glue or tape in the house.... the beautifully written report is missing the required cover! Reduce stress and excess work on the family by keeping your eye on the school supplies and teach your child how to maintain good organizational skills by asking your child to alert you in advance when supplies are becoming short.

One of the most valuable tips for saving on back to school shopping is.... drum roll please... don't send in excessive supplies at the beginning of the year. Send in what is needed or required and reduce excess use of materials during the first quarter of the school year!

08/15/09 18:38