Six Back-to-School Tips Every Parent Should Know

It's August-and they're Going Baaaaack!

Can you believe it? It's time to jump into the "back-to-school" routine. Once again we're amazed at how the summer flew by. Fall must have arrived faster than ever before! It seems too soon that we are thinking about what the kids need, and what life will be like for them in the next ten months. Ready or not, we set about the tradition of getting the kids ready for school.

But wait! What about the parents?

Back-to-school means changes for the grown-ups too. Undoubtedly, some parents will breathe a sigh of relief at having the kids back in school. Others may be sad that the slower summer pace is ending. Whatever your personal parental point of view, the reality of back-to-school time rings in a "new year," and brings challenges for all.

As grownups and kids go about this yearly business, it might be helpful for parents to consider some "Back-To-School" tips that can make the season easier and brighter for everyone.

Tip One: Taking the Age of Your Child Into Consideration Makes Preparation Easier. (Secret: Even the older ones benefit from parental forethought.)

The "Going-Back" experience will vary depending on your child's age.

A child going into pre-K will need a different preparation than the teen entering first or last year of High School. Even the how and what of selecting the new fall wardrobe will differ based on age. (You will get more say with the six year old than the sixteen year old!-To many parents this is no secret!)

Then there are the supplies. Find out in advance what supplies your child's teachers and the school require. Don't forget to include sports equipment or other extra curricular must-haves. High school students will need binders and back packs. (Some schools do not allow backpacks. You will need this info'.) Also find out what kind of technological equipment is needed for the grade your child is in. Familiarize yourself with what the particular school supplies.

Kids will go forward into a new school experience with more confidence when they feel they have what they will need. If your child does not know what is required you can call the school to find out. Usually personnel will be available to help during the summer.

To avoid an abrupt transition, consider adapting the home routine to the new requirements of the school routine. All kids benefit from consistency, and will do better if they do not go directly from summer rules to school necessity rules, such as bedtime changes, and free time changes. You might help them get used to their new schedule (Again, depending on age and coping ability) by having them experience the new schedule a few days before school starts. If they resist the actual doing, as the older ones might, talking to them about expectations can serve as effective preparation as well.

Tip Two: Communication About Your Child's Going Back Experience Helps Reduce Anxiety. (Secret: talk about it before it happens-and after too.)

Communication helps prepare your young student for the transition back to school. With children who have gone through this experience in the past discuss what has helped them to feel good about themselves, as well as what made the experience enjoyable. With little ones you might make up stories with school situations that create conversation ideas. You can try playing out scenes with puppets, reading books with school themes, as well as watching TV shows, or movies with school plots. You might even try relating a positive childhood school experience of your own. (Younger kids love stories where the hero/heroine is just like them. Try making up a parallel character that can make his/her way through a challenging school transition.)

Be sure to discuss the coming event before the beginning of school. You might ask your child to tell you what he/she thinks school will be like. What has he heard about the new teacher? Is there anything she is worried about? This is part of a process in which the child can begin to point out any problem areas, or the parent can listen for concerns the child is not able to identify. As problem areas are revealed, you can review coping options with your child. This type of "rehearsal" presents on-going preparation for dealing with school and other real life events.

Sometimes a child will return from day one or two with a comment such as "I don't like my teacher;" or "I don't want to go anymore." Dealing with comments like these also depends on the child's age. Little ones need to hear that "You have to go." (Older kids know this, but may also need to hear it.) Follow this type of statement with some questions about what is going on and how you can help. If there is a realistic problem in the class or the school, bring it up with the school. Encourage your child to believe that things usually get better, and that he will get used to the new routine.

Tip Three: Promoting Your Child's Resilience This Fall Will Make Transition Easier Next. (Secret: And throughout the year...and his/her life.)

Resilience is the ability to cope with change and difficulty, as well as to build a fulfilling life. Back to school brings many changes, depending on the child's age and existing coping capacity. Some changes, such as old friends having moved, changes in the school setting, a new school, a new teacher, and/or new rules, may be hard for some. However, the resilience to adapt to changes can be developed. Talk to your child about what may be coming, or what currently is at hand. Go over ideas that your child has for how to handle these changes, and how to make the school experience satisfying.

Continue to give your student a chance to tell you about her school concerns. Offer opportunities to discuss how school experiences have played out. (Look for openings to point out how well your child may have handled something she was concerned about. Normalize worries by reassuring your child that everyone has feelings when they start something new. With school there are new experiences all along the way, even after the new school routine is established.)

Continue to focus on your child's problem solving capacity. Build on conversations you have had in the past (Even yesterday!) about options. Talk about what choices he made. How did things work out? Would he do the same thing the next time? Why or why not?

Growth builds in a spiral. By reviewing what worked in the past and considering what to do in the present and future you help your child to develop the needed inner resources for coping. Your interest and attention will also serve as inspiration and psychological nutrition for the development of your son or daughter's resilience.

Tip Four: Paying Attention to Potential and Actual Problems Helps Children and Teens Build Coping Skills. (Secret: And learn how to deal with emotions at the same time.)

Going back to school, even if the child is home-schooled, presents a normal transition with a variety of problems that must be solved in age-appropriate ways. Bear in mind that normal transitions (Not just unusual ones) bring up normal emotions, as well as the need for problem solving/coping skills. Many adults have been taught to avoid dealing with emotions, but facing feelings is an important tool in problem solving.

Fall is a time when you can help your child to increase her kit of coping tools, and build her capacity to deal with feelings. (Remind yourself that it is okay to face and talk about feelings.)

Reassure your child that feelings about going back to school are normal, and that feelings can be talked about. (All of them, even the ones that he is not proud of) If your child has gone through the back-to- school transition before, remind him of his past ability to adapt and cope with specific problems. If your child is going to school for the first time, talk about other problems she has handled in previous situations and generalize her success to this new situation. Point out the qualities in your child that helped her to handle these past feelings and situations. If she thinks she has not handled a situation well, go back to the review of options for handling a similar occurrence in the future.

Be aware of other problems your child and/or other family members may be having. They may be impacting the way your child is viewing his return to school.

Tip Five: Equip Yourself With Knowledge About The Nature of Stress. (Secret: Stress is not a dirty word. Normal, expectable situations cause stress.)

We know that traumatic situations bring forth the stress response. However, normal situations can also produce stress. Be alert to stress in your child. (And in yourself.)

Be aware of signs of stress such as:

Alterations in sleep patterns, changes in eating habits, (including lack of or larger appetite), low mood, loss of interest in usual fun things, irritability, acting out (particularly, but not only, in older kids), changes in usual behaviors, (fussiness, especially in, but not only in little ones,) increased rudeness, and anything that indicates a change from the norm for your child.

It may be helpful to remember that thoughts play an important role in the amount of stress that one experiences. If you notice any of the above signs (Including things not mentioned that you deem to be stress related for your own child) consider that the child may be having some anxiety thoughts about school starting. (Or about other things going on in her larger environment that may be affecting worries about going to school.)

Look for openings to begin a conversation with your child about what is bothering her. If there are economic, situational, or health problems in the home or wider family network, these may affect the child's thinking about school. Stress works like that. These related concerns may need to be addressed. Your child, and/or other family members may even need outside help to resolve certain problems so that your child's comfort (and possibly everyone's) is improved. (A child does best when her loved ones are doing well.)

In general, a child will experience less stress when the home environment is consistent and predictable. However, life is always handing out problems that need to be solved. Check in on your own resiliency quotient. (The way you cope will affect your child's ability to cope.) Effective problem solving helps to keep the environment predictable, which optimizes your child's ability to manage his Back-To-School experience.

Tip Six: Back-To-School is not a One-Time Only Event. (Not much of a Secret: Your child goes "back to school" most days of the week!)

Beginnings are very important. They set the stage for dynamics going forward. While the big back-to-school moment happens only once a year, there are many returns, such as after vacations, after an illness, or even on a daily basis. Use of these tips at any time can help build your child's capacity to adapt to changes in school, home or life routines.

One idea you might try is this: Think of these "back-to-school" tips as back-to-basics tips. Any time your child has to deal with something new or difficult, you can employ these ideas. The growth in your child's resilience, will make life easier for you as well. These are all purpose tips useful for any occasion. (FYI--they can be helpful for grown-ups too!).

Bette J. Freedson, LCSW, is a stress expert, author and speaker. For over 25 years, she has made overcoming life's challenges easy and accessible. A sought-after media expert, Freedson has been featured on radio shows, several websites and in a number of magazines. Her first book, Soul Mothers' Wisdom: Seven Insights for the Single Mother, is due out in 2012.

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The Fastest Growing Unified School Districts

A School District or school division is an organization of public schools in a particular state that gives the residents their basic educational needs. It is headed by a school committee or school board. They are usually called school administrators. They ensure that all policies are implemented and that school activities, functions and even student-employee activities are carried out smoothly.

Most of the school districts support and participate in the city's business operations, including television stations, public libraries, kitchens, medical clinics, school bus yard, school laundries, warehouses and police departments. There are also recreational areas available in a school district. Oftentimes, school districts become a contributing factor to the success or the recession of the city's economic and political status.

The performance of a school district can be equated to the performance of the schools itself. Schools are not just for students. Schools are community centers. They cater to a number of different people and different businesses. Therefore, a good school should include a good learning environment. Discover why these unified district schools are making a reputable name.

Flagstaff Unified School District

The success of Flagstaff in Arizona is through the collaboration and commitment of parents, educators and its community. They have qualified teachers, wherein, most of them have a master's degree, are certified counselors, librarians and administrators. A number of their teachers are also recipients of citations and awards.

In 2002, the National Principal of the Year came from their district. Flagstaff Middle School received the Golden Bell award, the highest commendation for innovative instruction in Arizona. This district, founded in a log cabin, has now 6 elementary schools, 3 high schools, 4 middle schools and 1 alternative combination of high school and middle school. It also has a number of school buildings, libraries and recreational areas. Magnet schools were also opened to concentrate on academics, especially in Science, Arts and Citizenship and Character Education and Technology.

Flagstaff has a rich mix culture, excellent tourist destinations along with a scientific but family-oriented community that knows how to established good schools and a good quality of life. The community supports the districts' entire program by opening opportunities for both faculty and students alike. Some companies that provide it include a Lowell Observatory, W.L. Gore & Associates, a number of museums and symphony orchestras.

For the schools comfortable and safe environment, the community provides bus fleets, food services, health services and basic social services. In return, the students consistently score above national average on achievement exams, in which, drop out rates are lower than the state average. They garner gold medals in state and national competitions. They are also well prepared for careers in technology, trade and business. Graduates have been accepted at prestige universities including Princeton, Stanford and Yale.

Lake Elsinore Unified School District

Lake Elsinore in California is fast growing when it comes to commerce, retails, residential and light industry. The city provides excellent public service programs that include fire and police protection, public and commercial transportation and job opportunities in industries like tourism, computer animation, telecommunication, machining, aero sports and construction products. This school division provides students opportunities for academic excellence, extra curricular and athletic programs along with scholarship and employment opportunities.

This district consists of 15 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 4 alternative education schools. For the last two years, this school district is making a name in academic achievement and was even placed in the top 10 in riverside County ranking. Schools in this area are also known for its community involvement doing charitable works.

This school district has implemented a magnet program called Visual and Performing Arts and is now proving to be a success specifically in Butterfield Elementary School. It is making a name for arts and theaters in its 14 yrs of successful performances. They have received a number of honors and awards including Golden Bell, Los Angeles Music Center "BRAVO" award, healthy Start Grant and as a Treatment School for Reading and Arts Integrated for Student Excellence.

This school alone offers great amenities which make the school district unique. These include computer labs with eMacs for research, a theater fully equipped with lighting and sound system and BESTv green-screen, Reader's theater and classrooms with document cameras; plus Internet access.

For more information on School Districts List and Long Beach Unified School District please visit our website.

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Childhood Obesity and School Lunches - How to Put Your Child's Lunch Under Remote Control

The School Lunch Program: Parents Surrender Control of the Children's Food to The Federal Government and the School Boards

"The reason that children are currently too fat is, in part, because they used to be too thin"- The School Lunch Programs

School time, including going and coming home from school dominates a child or teen's day. The control the parents have at home evaporates once the school bus leaves and does not return for eight or more hours. The after school hours become dangerous times for eating and drinking because of the fatigue and low blood sugar experienced by many children and teens. It is easy for the parent who is also fatigued and often overwhelmed to give the child one of the bad snacks that he has seen on television. Whether it's the wrong school breakfast, bad school lunches and school sponsored vending machine the parents have relinquished control of the child and teen's food and drinks not only to the school but to their 7 year old!

School lunches offered to your children may differ among school districts, areas of the country or whether the school is public or private. Some schools have only cafeterias and provide the standardized school lunches while other schools also have a la carte food items, fast food kiosks or even student stores. Comparing what large groups of children end up eating for lunch, reveals twice as much fat from cafeteria lunches compared to bag (lunches brought from home.) Total fat and calories are even greater when students buy meals on an a la carte basis because they often pick two, three or more items and often the "wrong" items.

Where School Lunch Programs Began:

Undernourished and malnourished families and children began to be widespread across the U.S. in the 1930's. Draftees during World War II were regularly turned away because they were undernourished. Seeing this problem, President Harry S. Truman in 1946, pushed through the School Lunch Program, guaranteeing a hot lunch for every schoolchild who could not afford one. Thus began a plan that would contribute 60 years latter to the obesity epidemic we see today!

Changing School Lunch Programs:

The programs have changed over the years, adding free and reduced-cost breakfast during the 1960's. The government is in the school-food-supply business, buying surplus products from farmers and sending it along to the schools. School lunches tend to exceed the national recommendations for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. While the quality has improved somewhat in recent years, fresh fruits and vegetables usually are lacking. A sample of 24 public middle schools in San Diego County, CA. found that almost 50% of students in a school that has a student store or a la carte facility bought mostly candy, cakes and cookies and significantly fewer servings of fruit, and vegetables.

Scoop of the School Lunch Program:

Here is the 2005 USDA Food and Nutrition's Service presentation entitled "School Meal Program Performance: What Do We Know?

o 94,622 schools (90% of public schools) participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which served 49 million students

o School cafeterias served 4.8 billion lunches.

o NSLP serves over 29 million lunches, 9 million breakfasts and 154 million after school snacks

o About half of all lunches and 3/4 of all breakfasts are served free.

Children from low-income families may receive more than half of their daily caloric intake for from these meals. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not common place at homes can be come a stable of school lunches. Nutrition education could give students the tools they need to make healthy choices regarding eating and physical activity.

Mindless School Lunches vs. Packing a Lunch from Home:

Children, teens and their parents can buy their lunch at school or bring it from home. The choice should depend upon which results in the children obtaining the right foods at lunch. The typical school lunch is often much higher in calories, carbs and fat than it should be. It means that the parent needs to look closely at the cafeteria lunch menus which in most school districts are available for a week or two ahead. Here is what to look for in the school lunch:

What to Eat: Sandwiches, subs, wraps, vegetables, fresh fruits, yogurts

What to Drink: water, low fat or no fat milk, zero calories, fruit flavored waters

What NOT to eat: fried foods, meat, pasta, pizza, rice or potatoes

What NOT to drink: whole milk, sugar filled juices, soft drinks, sport drinks

On the other hand a lunch prepared by the parents is not always automatically healthier than one bought at school. If parents pack cookies, cake or potato chips, that's not a nutritious meal! But a packed lunch, if the parent does it right, does have a clear advantage. When you pack your children's lunch, you know your children and teens are eating the "right foods" - stuff you know they like. Remember you are not around at lunch, so you must direct their food almost by remote control.

Talk to your child or teen:

Make sure what you send for lunch is what they like. Even better, take them shopping and listen to their input. Stock up on their favorite healthy foods, you can save some money and end up with a healthy child.

Here are some quick lunchbox tips:

o Easy to open small packs which children like. It needs to be made quick. Remember, lunch time may be no more than 15-20 minutes.

o Small children may not eat very much at one sitting. Think about packing appetizers instead of a large sandwich and whole banana. You can also include more choices if the quantity of each is smaller.

o Small foods are not only easier for children to handle, but they are more fun to eat. Cut sandwiches into smaller pieces, small sandwich buns, and fruits or vegetables in small bags. Don't overwhelm the child with a large portion of anything.

o Some kids are content to eat the same thing day after day. It often can drive you crazy about the habits they get into. Don't worry as long as the food is healthy

o Instead of making sandwiches, consider packing individual sandwich ingredients to let your child make their own sandwich at lunch, or eat the ingredients separately.

o Cereal bars can pack a lot of nutrition into a food kids love to eat.

High tech insulated lunch boxes and bags on the market that have built in food safety features: thermoses, a space to slip a pre frozen gel pack, even pockets for wet wipes

Children and teens need to make good choices at lunch:

Whether the better choices are accomplished by taking food from home or by careful selections from school cafeterias, it's really unimportant. Parents need to understand they have little control of their child's food from the time the school bus pulls away until 8 hours latter. School menus need to be reviewed constantly and the parent needs to watch the selections. If eating a school lunch, child needs to learn how to make the best selections from what is available.

Richard Lipman M.D.a board certified internist and endocrinologist has been treating weight and metabolic problems for 25 years in his Miami office. His recent book, The 100 Calorie Secret, describes how thousands of his patients lost weight and kept it off. Learn more weight loss and tips from a doctor who actually takes care of metabolic problems and obesity problems at http://www.the100caloriesecret.com.

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Will Private Schools Survive?

The surest way to improve public education in this country is to close down private schools. Invested parents, committed to having their children properly educated with manageable class sizes, innovative programs, inspired teachers, and up to date facilities, would storm the gates of the public schools demanding better instructional delivery. Given the current economic trends, and the growing challenges for parents to make overblown tuition payments, this reality just might come true.

It won't happen overnight, but more and more private schools, living at the margins of balancing budgets with tuition, are staring at stark decision-making about faculty, staff, and programs. Some private schools have placed a freeze on salaries, others have limited tuition increases to 2 percent, and even others have cut staff and part-time faculty. Professional development funds have dried up, school heads are scrambling to come up with inventive ways to raise revenue, and faculty face parents demanding to know that they are getting their money's worth in the classroom. Will private schools survive the current economic storm?

The answer is yes, but it won't be easy. As state budgets shrink, with California as the most extreme case, public school class sizes will balloon, up to as many as 40 per classroom in some areas. Budgets for "specials" like art and music will disappear, after school programs will no longer be able to absorb cost of care for working parents, and facility maintenance and improvement will fall into further disrepair without a strong boost from the gargantuan education stimulus package. President Obama has made the case for change.

He boldly stated that he did not come to Washington to continue with business as usual. These are strong words and have many Americans bracing with excitement at the possibility of a clear overhaul of education, health care, and even energy policy. However, it will take time, and for those families torn at the seams over whether to make their tuition payments for private school, the President's plans may be too slow in coming. That is good news for private schools.

The sacred cow for private school families is education. Some parents will risk going into foreclosure, just to make sure they can pay tuition for their children. These parents know what is on the other side, if they fail to keep their children in private school, especially in urban centers like Washington, D.C., New York, and San Francisco. President Obama has his daughters at the elite Sidwell Friends School, after all. DC schools chancellor Michelle Rhee has decided to wage holy war on the public schools, and she has the moral support and good wishes of many, while at the same time infuriating the entrenched bureaucrats, who have driven public school policy into a 10 car pile-up for years. She simply will not stand for anything less than excellence.

In fact, her metric for determining acceptable classroom teaching rests right where many private school families stand - their children. As she cold calls on schools, and steps into classrooms to observe teaching, she asks herself whether she would want her own children in that classroom. If the answer is no, there is hell to pay for the teacher. Not surprising, then, that teachers' unions are up in arms. But, Chancellor Rhee is only doing what private school parents do every day - asking and demanding excellence in the classroom. Of course, Chancellor Rhee is not being asked to donate hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to help keep school running, but she is invested in the education of her own children and all of the children in the grossly under performing DC public schools.

Private schools have a unique opportunity to soar through the economic crisis. Because they are not bound by state standards, classroom teachers have a greater degree of flexibility with curriculum design. Many private school teachers are drawn to teach in this type of environment because they have freer reign to develop creative lessons. Private schools can also cultivate a niche, choosing to serve the needs of gifted learners, or emphasizing environmental stewardship.

Charter schools have this same freedom, which is why they are increasingly the school of choice in urban centers. Class sizes are smaller, and will remain so. Even if private school class sizes swell to account for budgetary woes, parents know that their children receive more individualized attention. At many private schools, parents are invited to participate in the life of the school in productive, meaningful ways, whether it is on school committees and task forces, or running book and math clubs for students.

Navigating the financial mess may prove to be more challenging for many private schools, especially for those schools that are primarily tuition-driven. Only the very few have the ridiculously high endowment numbers of Exeter and even those schools have witnessed a sharp decline in their endowment monies. Financial aid asks are up this year, particularly from current families, who previously did not have to put in a request for aid. Schools are being especially sensitive with these families, since many have been at the school for several years and have more than one child enrolled.

Auctions and annual funds will walk along a cliff this year, and many schools count on these additional dollars to balance budgets. To mitigate the rise in financial aid requests, coupled with the dip in auction and annual fund dollars, schools can take several steps. First, they can rebid all service contracts and construction projects. Contractors are desperate to keep their clients, and are more than willing to negotiate to maintain relationships. Second, schools can seek alternative sources of revenue, through developing summer camp programs, and renting out facilities for corporate meetings, weekend weddings, local athletic leagues, and clinics.

Third, schools can be prudent with budgets and curb classroom spending by modest amounts of 10-15 percent. Fourth, the time is right to move in a greener direction, through electronic mailings, and careful unplugging of machines and equipment at night, to stem electricity costs. Fifth, and perhaps most important, schools can systematize their communications to ensure that each family receives word about how their child is doing on a daily basis at school. Classroom teachers, specialists, administrators, and staff can and must coordinate their efforts to build even stronger connectivity with their families.

Private schools won't shut down tomorrow. Parents will still stretch to send their children into the outstretched arms of independent school education. Even Oprah Winfrey is on board, and has taken the leap with the start of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for girls in South Africa. Private schools can stand apart from public schools, and with careful budgeting, smart messaging, and lasting personal connections, private schools can swim through the current financial waters and arrive safely on dry land.

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Changing Scenario of School Shoes

In recession time companies are taking all possible initiative to increase the business volume. Naturally how they may lag behind in school shoes segment.

Education in India has been provided more importance since the beginning of human civilisation. It is mentioned in epics that in ancient times the kids were sent to Gurukul for education for a fix period of time where their all arrangements from education to their food, lodging, etc. were done by the Gurukul administration.

The structures of these educational institutions have been changed with time. Different religions opened study centers according to their faith and traditions. In present time too, there many educational institutions are there according to income diversity in society. These institutions are not only different according to income level but there is many other basis of segmentation. They are government, private, nursery, primary, junior, senior, kendriya vidyalaya, navodaya vidyalaya, etc.

Peoples from different income groups send their children according to their income potential to these institutions. These institutions have their own dress code which is mandatory to fulfill. One of them is shoe. Shoes are the most important part of their dress code.

In ancient times where children use khdaun made from wood for their feet, now many kinds of schools shoes are worn in schools today. In fact a school shoe has its own industry. The diversity of these school shoes are decided by the location, status and rules-regulation of the management of the schools. As in metro cities, fee of the school starts with somewhere Rs. 1500 per month which is Rs. 10,000 per month too in some cases. Often in such schools have rule to wear two-three types' shoes in a week, for example, regular school shoes, PT shoes, sports shoes, etc.

Similarly, in small cities or town areas too there are different schools which can be diversified easily. The fee of such schools is in range of Rs. 200 per month to Rs. 700-800 per month. Naturally, the guardians of children of such schools will be from different income groups. Also the dress code of such schools will be different. However, in most of such school too there are trend of at least two pair shoes per week.

Also, the schools can be classified according to their administration pattern and financial arrangements, as in private schools the financial arrangement lies in their formulated boards and they fulfill their financial needs by fees. In government schools the financial arrangement and administration are done by the government representatives. It is perception that fee of government schools is not much which is correct to larger extent. Most of the government schools are navodaya vidyalaya, kendriya vidyalaya, inter college, primary schools, etc. which are exists from villages to metro cities. These schools too have their own dress code. However, guardians of the children studying in these belong to lower income group except some exceptions. Shoes of their dress are also accordingly.

In government institutions there is another group i.e. state board of different states. Every state has its own education board operated by state administration and there are many institutions recognised by these boards. Many boards are operating at national level too, as CBSE, ICSE, NCERT, etc. The schools recognised by these schools have their own dress code of their kind. Generally in such schools too there are trend of two pair of shoes in a week.

Apart from all these, now especially in metro cities another kind of school is taking place significantly and that is play-school. The trend of play-school is rapid growing. Generally, in such schools two years old children got admitted where learn while playing. However such schools don't have the dress code but the children wear shoes which have their own identity in market.

Now many of the companies are engaged in the business implicit in shoes requirement of these schools. Not only tiny and cottage industries but multi nationals are in such companies. Some private institutions properly form a contract with these companies and the shoes of their dress code are available their stores only.

On the other side such government schools which arrange the education as well as fooding, lodging and dress of children, they purchase school shoes in bulk quantity by issuing the tender. Now the Government has implemented a law of mandatory education for children till age of 14 year. So, the Government itself arranges the other needs of the children apart from education. Government itself purchases and distributes the shoes to children.

Most of the footwear companies accept that business of school shoes has its own idenity which has dominance in footwear industry. Many companies announce their new range of school shoes from time to time. In most of these ranges belly shoes fulfill the requirements of girls while shoes made form leather, rexin and canvas cover the boys shoe necessity.

To tap the opportunities in school shoes segment not only small and national level companies but multi-nationals like Nike, Adidas, Bata, etc. are recording their presence. However, the centalisation of these big brands are limited to metro cities as these shoes can be bought by those guardians whose children are studying in highly paid schools. On the other side the shoe requirement of medium and low fee range schools is often filled by many small and national level companies like Relaxo, Lakhani, Paragon, Niio, Columbus, Lancer, etc.

But due to recession, school shoes business too hammered. According to an estimate from September 2008 to now the business volume of school shoes has been decreased. In these circumstances where small companies just follow the innovative and new designs by big international brands and they launch it lower price band in market. But the big companies have their separate research and development department. These departments continually innovate new designs with special features and facilities which are liked in market.

In recession time companies are taking all possible initiative to increase the business volume. Naturally how they may lag behind in school shoes segment. Hence every footwear company either big or small is launching new range of school shoes.

I am a business journalist.

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How to Choose a Martial Arts School

Have you seen how many martial arts schools are in your local phonebook? How do you know if you're choosing the right school? In this article we will feature advice on choosing the right martial arts school for your child.

Everywhere you turn there's a martial arts school! It is estimated there is 20,000 martial arts school in the U.S. alone. Chances are you have at least one school within a few miles of your home. Today's martial arts schools ranges from garage-based schools, to fancy mega-schools with multiple training floors and observation lounges. Based on national averages, martial arts schools charge about $125 per month, but schools can be found charging anywhere from $35.00 to more than $200/month.

Because most parents are not experts in martial arts they will typically choose a martial arts school based on either price or convenience of the location. Unfortunately, choosing a martial arts school is not as simple as comparing prices or the proximity from your home. It may be cliche, but if you compare martial arts schools, you're comparing apples to oranges. If you plan to enroll your child in martial arts school with goal of building his/her self-esteem or empowering him/her with the ability to defend his/herself it may take a minimum of one year of training, but likely more. That being said, choosing the wrong school can lead to your child wanting to quit before the goal is achieved. Choosing the right school can have a life-changing affect on your child.

Martial arts consultant, and a veteran school owner, Tom Callos, says, "You evaluate a martial arts school the same way you would evaluate any school you would take your child to. Just because you're thinking of joining a school that teaches the "ancient art of self defense," doesn't mean you don't apply modern day scrutiny to their professionalism, teachers, and facilities."

Here are six tips to finding the right martial arts school:

The Instructor

This should be your number one focus when choosing the right school. A few qualities to look for in an instructor is someone that possesses confidence, courtesy, a positive attitude, and professionalism. Look for an instructor that treats his/her students with respect, as you would like your child to treat you. Gone are the days of respect from intimidation. The instructor will hopefully be wearing a black belt, which should indicate that he/she has attained a high-level of proficiency within their school. The belt does not necessarily translate that he or she will be a great teacher. Watch a class or better yet have your child participate in a trial lesson to see how the instructor interacts with the students and/or your child. Not getting a good vibe, maybe this is not the school for you.

The Curriculum

Over 93% of parents polled in a national survey indicated they wanted their child to be more confident, focused, disciplined and respectful. Do you want the same for your child? These life-skills are what most martial arts schools tell you they teach. But how do they teach it? Ask to see how the school teaches character development. In some schools the process happens by osmosis. There is no set curriculum and it either happens or not. The top schools martial arts schools invest in a system for teaching personal development that ensures all students are equipped with the same values, regardless of which instructor is teaching the class. Make sure the character education program caters to your child's learning style. If the lessons are all auditory (i.e. reading stories in class) that may not work best for children who are more visual or kinesthetic (action-based) learners. If the school has no "system" for teaching character education then there are no guarantees your child will gain the values you desire.

The Students

Are there a lot of intermediate and advanced students in classes? Chances are you've found a school that knows how to enroll and keep its students; that's a good sign! If you go to a school that's been in business for a year or longer and it's still empty, something's not right with the school. Most martial arts teachers think their classes are the best classes -- the way that most restaurateurs think that their food is the best food. If the parking lot is empty, it's a sign that the customers have a different opinion. On a side note, big does not always equal best. Make sure that your child will receive the personal attention that he or she would receive in school. The student to teacher ratio should not exceed 25 to 1.

The Style

When shopping for the right martial arts school, the "style" the school teaches is not nearly as important as who teaches the class. A good instructor will inspire your child to be their best. There is not one style that is best for kids. Each style will offer something different. One may focus on kicks and strikes, one may emphasize throws and rolls, and another may concentrate on ground defense. A qualified instructor will not teach your child self-offense. Each style should and will, if taught by a good instructor, teach self-defense; so there is no need to worry that your child will become the next playground bully.

The Commitment

Most schools will give you and/or your child an opportunity to try martial arts before making a commitment. Martial arts schools typically will offer a free class, a free private lesson or an introductory course. This gives you an opportunity to evaluate the instructor and program and determine if what they promise and what they deliver are congruent. If there seems to be a deviation from what you've been promised or the instructor doesn't seem to "live up to the hype"; perhaps it's time to move on. If the school doesn't offer a trial program and wants to sign you up on a long-term commitment that should be a definite red flag.

Do Your Research

Most schools will have information that you can peruse on the Internet that should tell about the instructor, and the features and benefits of the school. The theme and content of the website may give you a good indication of whether this is a school you may want to consider. Remember why you want to enroll your child in martial arts and see if the website content addresses those needs. If instead the website is more focused on boasting the accomplishments of the instructor having won several championships, breaking bricks with the touch of his/her hand, or the instructor has high ranking degrees in several different martial arts, you may want to proceed with caution. Remember this quote, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Be impressed by the instructor, not the credentials.

For more tips, visit our website at http://www.success-centers.com.

Gary Martin has been a sought-after speaker within the martial arts industry. He has authored a book on personal development for kids and is the founder of Success Centers. Mr. Martin was also a competitor in 2006 World Championships. He can be reached at success@success-centers.com.

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A Guide to Choosing the Right School Program For Your Child

We are so fortunate to live in a country where we have so many educational programs to choose from for our children. However fortunate we are there's no denying that so many programs can cause our heads to spin. As a parent of three grown boys, a home-school mom, charter school founder and now the CEO of a Colorado tutoring center, I'd like to offer some guidelines that may help make this process a little easier for you.

Before you get started choosing a school, apply these four components to your decision making process:

1. School Philosophy - Is it traditional, progressive or other?
2. School Achievement Record - Information can be found at your State Department of Education website.
3. Safety - Information on a school's safety record can be found at your State Department of Education website and through your local police department.
4. Family Cohesiveness - Will the program work for all family members and the family budget?

By applying these four components to your selection process you will be able to come to a decision that is not only best for your child but will ensure educational stability which is important for student achievement. I know from personal experience, kids do not like to move from school to school as it puts too much strain on their social experience.

You will find that all schools, even though they are supposed to be created equal, are not. Should you make a change, you may find the new school is teaching a new type of math that differs from your old school. This could put your child behind right when they arrive hindering your child's progress and hurting their overall educational experience. Before you do anything, visit the school. Some schools require an appointment so you might want to call ahead and check. I also recommend visiting the classrooms. It's a red flag if a school won't let you observe a classroom. When a school doesn't require an appointment and will let you observe a classroom that's a real plus in my book.

You may not be aware of all the school choices you have available to you. I know from speaking with many or our tutoring families they are surprised to learn about the many options they have when choosing a school for their child. So let's go over the main ones and keep in mind the area where you live may have other choices so visit your state's Department of Education website to learn all about the different programs in your area. Listed below is a breakdown of school options using pros and cons. You can add your own pros and cons so it fits your personal needs.

Public Schools - I am listing items that are generally offered at public schools. There will be some differences depending on your area. Of course, you may see a con that to you is a pro so it's just a matter of opinion. If it fits with your philosophy and your family's needs then that's all that matters.

Pros:

1. Usually close to home.
2. Most kids in the neighborhood will be going, so your child will know the students.
3. May have buses to take your child to school.
4. Before and after school care offered.
5. School cafeteria (free school lunch in some areas).
6. Generally speaking, public schools have better funding then charters and private schools.
7. Extra-curricular activities available (band, sports, art, etc.).
8. PTO support.
9. Special education programs.
10. Open enrollment programs in some districts which allows you to choose a school that fits your own educational philosophy.
11. Some areas have a Track Calendar which allows for 3 week breaks during the year.
12. Usually have up-to-date curriculum and technology (Generally speaking when compared to Charter Schools).

Cons:

1. One-size- fits-all teaching methods.
2. Large class sizes.
3. Over crowding.
4. Long bus rides to school.
5. Includes areas of study you may oppose.
6. Student discipline issues due to over crowding.
7. Teacher Tenure - hard to remove ineffective teachers.
8. Some areas have a Track Calendar but you can't always have all siblings on the same track.
9. Curriculum not as rigorous as you may like.
10. Too much testing.

Charter Schools - (Pubic schools that operate autonomously)

Pros:

1. Smaller class sizes.
2. School uniforms.
3. Operates autonomously from the school district.
4. Many volunteer opportunities.
5. Parent Council.
6. A defined philosophy - You will know if the school is more traditional or progressive. Some charters are designed to be delivered outdoors only. Charters tend to inform their parents of their expectations of you and your child so you will know if it's a good match.
7. Most charters have smaller school populations.
8. Statistics are showing that charter schools out perform public schools after they have been established for 5 years or more.
9. These schools usually have a stricter code of conduct.
10. Grading scale is usually more difficult.

Cons:

1. Limited enrollment and siblings may not get in.
2. Sometimes there is a waiting list and it could take years for your child to be accepted.
3. No bus service.
4. Limited supplies and curriculum - especially if a new charter.
5. Many new charters won't have cafeteria services for the first few years.
6. Parent councils can operate poorly.
7. Teacher continuity can take a few years.
8. May not have before and after care.
9. Your child may not see their neighborhood friends.
10. These schools usually have stricter codes of conduct.
11. Grading scale is usually more difficult.
12. Won't always be able to switch to another teacher if you don't like the one your child has as most charters only have 2 classes per grade.
13. Although it is mandatory, many charters will have limited Special Ed services.
14. New charters often suffer growing pains. You'll be expected to volunteer a lot and donate as much money and supplies as you can.

Home Schools - Be sure to check with your Department of Education before you start a home school program. You usually are required to complete a form of notification and there are state guidelines and testing that must be followed as well.

Pros:

1. Freedom to choose your own curriculum and teaching methods.
2. Set your own schedule and calendar. You can hold classes 3 days a week or 6 days, whichever you prefer. Along with choosing your own curriculum this has got to be the best part of homeschooling. (180-185 days of school are usually required but you can choose to hold class in the mornings, stop at 12:00, and then come back at 3:00 and work another few hours.
3. Classes can be anywhere - at home, church, and on field trips with friends.
4. In many states your child can participate in specials (art, computer, music classes) at your local public school at no charge.
5. The joy of having more time with your kids.
6. Can establish outside playgroups and activities with other home-school moms.
7. You can join Home School Associations in your area for resources and assistance.
8. Depending on your school district, there are now online programs available free of charge that provides you with a computer, printer, curriculum and teacher contact. Your child is part of a school district program but they learn from home.

Cons:

1. Time commitment is sometimes overwhelming.
2. The cost can be underestimated. Some home school parents start from scratch and others purchase lesson plans and curriculum kits. There are so many resources now to choose from but there will be out of pocket expense.
3. Turning your home into a classroom - you may have limited space.
4. Time management.
5. Student management - your child may not always want to work with you.
6. Negative feedback from other parents. Let's face it, if you are thin skinned this may not be for you. Many parents tend to think you are doing your child a disservice by not allowing your child to go to school and have the social benefits of public school. Others will say you are trying to shelter them from the real world.

Private Schools: There are so many private schools with different programs that for me to try and list the pros and cons would not be helpful. This is one area that you really need to do your homework on to make sure the value given is worth the cost.

Hopefully you have gathered some useful information and ideas that will make your selection process easier. If you're like me there is nothing more important than a powerful education. Good, just isn't good enough!

Diane Kulback is CEO of Step to Success Community Learning Center in Parker, CO. You can visit their website at http://www.steptosuccesstutoring.com or call 1-877-744-4771.

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