Back 2 School Tips

• Work out a safe route to school with your parents. Choose the quickest way with the fewest street crossings and use intersections with crossing guards. Stay away from parks, vacant lots, fields, and other places where there aren't many people around.
  Whenever possible walk to and from school with a friend, neighbor, brother, or sister. Don't go by yourself.
  
• Be sure you know your home phone number (including area code) and address, the numbers of your parents at work and of another trusted adult, and how to use 911 for emergencies.
  
• Never talk to strangers or accept rides or gifts from strangers. Remember, a stranger is anyone you or your parents don't know well and trust.
  If you bike or skate to school, wear a helmet. And don't forget to lock up your bike with a sturdy lock wherever you leave it.
  If you're home alone after school, check in with a parent or neighbor as soon as you walk in the door.
  
• Let parents and friends know if you stay late after school. Get permission first if you want to play with a friend instead of going home.

• Back to school shopping is one of the greatest things about going back to school. But when everyone else is doing the same, it can be hard to find the right sizes and your favorite styles at the most popular stores. Try shopping on the weekdays at odd hours. The stores won't be as crowded as they are on the weekend or at lunch hour. Start at the back of the store, and work your way forward (the great priced items are often hidden in the back). Another great idea is to online shop! It takes half the time, and you can be guaranteed to find everything you are looking for.
  
• Tip: If you fall in love with something at a store but it is just too expensive, ask a sales associate when the item will be going on sale. If the price is not going to be reduced soon, think about how often you would wear it. If it's something that doesn't work for everyday, you can eliminate it from your memory! But if you think it's going to be a great basic piece, consider splurging. If you're going to wear something often, it pays to buy good quality.
  
• Do Homework as Early as Possible:
  Don't leave homework for the last minute! Instead of watching the same episode of Project Runway for the third time in a row, start cracking the books! If you have a vocabulary test the next week, start making flashcards! Even if it seems too early, you will be ready for whatever comes along! Being unprepared is the worst, and you will be thanking yourself when you get that extra half hour to sleep in the morning! Your teachers will be proud, and you will be on top of your game.
  
• Packing the night before:
  School mornings can be really rough! If you find yourself scrambling to find your overdue homework, packing a brown bag lunch between bites of cereal and school starts in three minutes - you need a new plan. Easy enough, do all the packing the night before. That way, you will be prepared for everything and your much-needed things won't be floating around the whole house! Pick out your outfit the night before and neatly lay it out. If it's super wrinkly, you have time to iron it, and if your sock has a hole in it, you can pick a new pair. After dinner when everything is quieting down, pack your lunch. Before your little brother has time to snag the leftover lasagna from the night before, you will get first dibs on all the choices in the fridge! When Friday rolls around, consider buying lunch -a week of PB&J sandwiches can get tiresome after a few days, but the time Monday comes along, you will be craving your beloved sandwich! Tip: It's also a good idea to put your school bag at the front door to avoid last minute panic when it's time to leave.
  
• Labeling:
  From school sweatshirts (which almost every kid on campus owns) to pencil cases, labeling is key to organization! Tag your most important stuff (clothes, book bag, etc.) with your name, address and number and smaller items with your name. Although it sounds very elementary school, seeing some random kid using your favorite pen can be slightly awkward!
  
• Emergency Snacks:
  If you often hit a mid morning slump, or have practice immediately after school, pack some emergency snacks. For a fun spin on things, take turns bringing snacks with one or two friends. Trail mix, juice boxes, crackers, pretzels or fruit are great choices. Not only will you save money at the vending machines, sharing snacks is a great conversation starter when you want to branch out and meet some new people.