Back To School Tips

Angie's 10 Questions to ask prospective child care providers:
1. What is the relationship between the childcare center and the schools in the district?
2. Can you speak with other families who use the center to ask about their experiences?
3. What accreditations does the center have?
4. What is the staff-to-child ratio? Ratio regulations vary by state, but generally are 15-to-20 elementary age children for every one staff member and 10-to-12 to one for preschool and kindergarten programs.
5. Who are the staff members? Quality programs should have highly competent staff members who understand child development and can plan age-appropriate activities.
6. Are activities recreationally or educationally based? Experts say activities should be engaging and offer opportunities to gain a variety of skills in problem solving and critical thinking.
7. What's the cost? Some programs charge for just the days your child attends, while others charge by the week. Some provide scholarships or discounts based on need.
8. If the program isn't in your child's school, what are the transportation arrangements? Find out the driver's background, the type of vehicle used and if pick-up and drop-off sites are supervised.
9. What is the sign-in/sign-out procedure? It's important that the program spell out who is responsible for delivering your child to the program and who is allowed to pick him or her up - and whether a photo ID is required. Also, ask about playground supervision and bathroom trips.
10. Is breakfast available before school? Are snacks available after? Some programs offer food for the children; others allow or require parents to bring their own.

Content: Computers
Angie's List recently polled its members on their child's computer usage. According to the results of the nationwide poll, 63 percent of respondents say their child will require a home computer for school use.
Only seven percent of respondents plan to buy a brand new computer for their child this year. That means more families will be looking to get the most mileage possible out of their current computer. If your computer needs service or repair work, call now. It's better to find out before the homework starts than after a serious issue that could derail your straight "A" student.
In 2007, Angie's List members reported spending on average about $253.00 per job on computer repair. But if the repair will cost more than half the cost of a new computer, you're probably better off replacing it altogether.

· In need of repair? Call several shops and ask them about their diagnostic and repair fees. Get an estimate of what repairs will cost before you authorize any work done. Get all guarantees in writing.
· Save yourself: Before you bring in your computer for repair or service, back up your data and delete any sensitive information.
· Get up-to-date: Update all of your virus and spyware software and install all other necessary updates. It's not always the best choice to buy spyware and antivirus software from where you bought your computer. Usually those programs can be very expensive while free programs are available online.
If you're in the market for a new computer, take into consideration your child's needs. Some computers are better suited than others depending upon factors such as grade level, subject matter, and wear and tear.
· Don't wait until the last minute to buy a computer for school. Give yourself at least a month before school starts, if possible, so you can install everything that you need, download your old files, and get comfortable with the new computer.
· Desktop or laptop? It really depends on your child. While a laptop is more convenient than a desktop, laptops are also more expensive and fragile.
· Back up, back up, back up. An external hard drive is relatively inexpensive considering your child won't be scrambling to rewrite that 20 page term paper when the computer crashes.

Content: Music Instruction
Music tutors usually finding themselves turning away parents who waited too long to enroll their kids in fall music classes, but the economic slump has many tutors singing a different tune this year.
Normally, it's best to secure a music instructor well before school gets back in session, but this year, our highly rated music instructors are telling us they still have openings. That means you have the unusual opportunity of still having time to enroll your child, but you also may find it more affordable as tutors try to fill their schedules.
Forty percent of Angie's List members responding to a recent nationwide poll said their child or children would be involved in a music program this year, while another 21 percent said their's might be involved in music or choir. Of those who are expecting their child to be in some form of music study, more than one-third said their child would take private lessons, and almost another quarter of the respondents are considering lessons.
Of course, music instruction is not just for school-aged kids. Many instructors offer a variety of classes for infants, toddlers and adults, proving you're never too young - or too old - to learn something new.
A lot of music instructors are branching out their services to bring in new clients. One of the latest trends is adult recreational music making classes, which are designed to help promote stress relief. Others offer interactive music play for infants and toddlers, acting on the premise that early introduction to music can enhance vocabulary skills.
Here are some tips on finding the right private instructor for your little musical prodigies as they head into to the back-to-school season:

· Credentials are Key: Many music instructors have a professional accreditation or hold a degree in music education, but not all do. Ask for the instructor's credentials.
· Avoid a Chorus of "Boos": Ask the prospective instructor for references from current students and their families. Also, word-of-mouth references from friends, family and Angie's List could help you avoid hiring an instructor who might not be the right fit.
· Strike the right Chord: Consider bringing along the child to the initial interview with the prospective teacher so you both understand the teacher's philosophy and policies and to get a feel for how their personalities fit. If the interaction between the student and teacher is less than harmonic, that could be reflected in the end result of the lessons.
· A duet could sweeten the deal: Many music teachers offer discounts to families with multiple children enrolled.
· Everyone Sing along now: Just like with schoolwork, children in music lessons need plenty of study and practice time. Often, children need motivation to practice. Be willing to supervise, enforce and even participate in practice. If your child is starting new lessons at the beginning of the school year, agree on a firm practice schedule and stick to it. "Sometimes, it takes time for them to catch on," offered one music instructor. "But once they do, it's awesome!"

Content: Hiring a Tutor
While it might be difficult for some parents to accept that their child is struggling academically and requires additional resources, those struggles aren't uncommon.
According to the results of a recent poll of Angie's List members, more than 1 in 4 kids have used a tutor in the past and another one-in-three might require one this year.
Kids sometimes struggle at the beginning of the school year with getting back into the groove of things. We talked to our highly rated tutors and they recommend staying ahead of potential problems by hiring a tutor before school begins to help your child brush up in the areas they struggle most. That way, when school begins, they're ready to hit the ground running.
Angie's highly rated tutors offer some A-rated advice to help your scholars excel in school:

Make the environment in which a child learns one where he or she can focus and feel supported. Oftentimes a student will fear failure, but if help is available immediately and the child knows this, he or she is much less likely to allow emotional aspects of school affect their cognitive ability.
It is important to tailor a tutoring session to the individual student. If that student feels more comfortable in a group of students and thrives off competition, then a group session is best. If a student is shy about her or his academic prowess, then individual tutoring is probably in order.

· Put your child on a school schedule, including bedtime, wake-up time, mealtime and study time, prior to the first day of school to help ease him or her back into a routine.
· Make sure your child studies or is tutored in between semesters so he or she doesn't lose the knowledge they've gained. Read books that are appropriate grade level, do something with math like multiplication tables, counting money or word problems.
· Go over school skills with your kids whenever you get a chance. Have them do math in their heads at the checkout counter of the grocery store, read billboards aloud when you're driving in the car, or help you measure out ingredients in the kitchen. They'll love the attention and it will keep their skills sharp.
· Have an older sibling read aloud to a younger sibling. It creates a sense of accomplishment and maturity. Also, have a family reading time when the children can read aloud.
Angie's List recommends parents check the tutor's credentials, contact references or check Angie's List for reports on the tutor, and read the fine print on any contract before entering into a hiring agreement with a tutor. Also, interview the tutor in advance with your child present to get a feel for how their personalities would mesh.