College Countdown

Preparing for your children's college experience may seem overwhelming, but below you'll find some important steps to keep the experience stress-free and memorable!

Save, Save, Save. 

1. It is never too early to start a savings plan for your child. Even if you only contribute a small amount every month it adds up when it starts collecting interest. 
2. If your child ends up receiving scholarships, this money will be helpful for their other living expenses, to buy them a car or a great down-payment on their first home. 

Research and encourage your child to be adventurous. 

1. The more information you have the better. It is never too soon to look at schools, prep programs and financial assistance options. 
2. Discuss possible career paths and look in to summer programs for high school students at colleges and universities. This will allow them to experience the career they think they want to pursue and give them a leg-up when they apply to schools. 
3. Explore subjects and topics beyond your child’s comfort level. If your child limits him or herself to just a few sets of subjects, your child may never find out what it is they are good at, or what really excites them.

Teach Financial Responsibility. 

1. When your child goes off to college s/he will most likely be on her or his own and although you will be helping out it is never too soon to teach your child to spend and handle money wisely. 
2. Encourage Them to Have a Summer Job or Part-time Job. Once your child is in high school s/he should start to learn what it is like to hold a job.

Encourage Independence.  

1. While you want to make sure your child doesn’t miss admission deadlines, SAT testing dates, and financial aid deadlines, this is the time when s/he needs to start being independent. Going to college means being an adult and therefore your kids should be filling out applications themselves. 
2. Have them do their own laundry, prepare meals for the family and look after younger siblings. They will need to prepare to do these things on their own when they are away at school.  

Teachable Moment: When kids receive money as a present for their birthday or for a holiday encourage them to deposit it into their college savings plan. Explain to them the value of saving it rather than spending it right away. 

Pint-Sized Romance

Don’t treat it as a taboo subject.
It is a fact of life and the earlier and more openly you communicate with them the better. Plus, if you start talking to them early, it is more likely that as they become teens they will continue to talk to you about things.

If your child is asking questions, be honest. Have open communication with your child early on so that when    they do become interested in someone they feel comfortable talking about it.

Ask questions.
You know your child better than anyone. If you notice differences ask questions. Do you feel your body changing? Do you know what sex, menstruation or wet dreams are?

Set a Good Example.
Children learn how to act or behave in a relationship from you, so set a good example. Be sure to discuss things like self-respect and respecting one another.

Play Dates.
Meet your child’s person of interest by inviting them over to the house. Invite them as a part of a group so that they feel less awkward. This will allow you to get to know them and to feel more comfortable if your child begins to date.

Set Rules and Stick to Them.
Be sure that they are not distracted by their “crushes” and continue to be productive in school. Make sure that they know once they start dating that there are rules, like curfews, about what is appropriate for someone their age

Angela’s Teachable Moment: Create Valentines with your children to send to their friend who they “like”. This is a great opportunity to talk about who these people are and what they mean to your child. If there is a “love”, it is a great time to speak about what is appropriate for their age and that they don’t have to do anything they don’t want to and can just be friends.

Healthy Choices for Kids

There are tons of benefits to healthy eating and getting your kids into good eating habits early, even if they're picky eaters, can help to establish healthy, lifelong patterns.

Fruits & Veggies!
1.  Always pack some sort of fruit or vegetable as a lunchtime snack. Keep a few options at home that kids can choose from. This way they will choose something they like but it will still be healthy.
2.  The earlier you get them eating fruits and veggies, the more likely they are to grow to like them and keep eating them when they’re adults.

Don’t Bring Junk in to the House
1.  If your children don’t have unhealthy snack options they won’t make unhealthy choices. The best way to ensure they’re eating right is simply not to offer foods loaded with fat and sugar.
2.  Set an example. If you eat junk food at home, your kids are going to want to do the same.

Healthier Alternatives  
1.  Sandwiches are a lunchtime staple, but the bread can make a difference. Try putting peanut butter and jelly on a whole-wheat bagel or whole-wheat toast instead of white bread.
2.  Hummus is a great alternative to dressings filled with fat and carbs, instead try hummus as a dip for veggies like cucumbers and celery.  

Do It Yourself
1.  Instead of buying a snack mix that’s full of salt, make your own, with low-fat pretzels, dried cranberries and mini chocolate chips.
2.  Making homemade cookies with fresh ingredients is much better than buying pre-packaged cookies or pre-made dough.
3.  Plant a garden together.  Learning where fruits and vegetables come from will give them a better sense of where these important foods come from.

Teachable Moment: Instead of just telling kids what to eat, explain to your kids why they’re eating this food and teach them the importance of nutrition. It doesn’t mean they will stop liking sweets and soda but they will want to make better choices if they understand the reason behind them.