Thursday, April 16, 2015 is the day for on-time registration for  the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond, as well as the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King William, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George and Sussex.

It’s important to register by the registration on April 16 so you don’t miss any important information, teachers can be well prepared for your child in the classroom and school can prepare with enough staff and materials for a great start to the new school year.

Registering your first kindergartner? Get started now.
There’s quite a bit of paperwork involved and you may need a little time to get everything together.
Here’s your Kindergarten Checklist (Download and print one here):

-Child’s official, certified birth certificate

-Child’s Social Security card

-Proof of address

-School Entrance Health Form

-Photo ID for parent of legal guardian

Get more information plus contact information and registration times and locations at Smart Beginnings.

Don’t forget!
 Download & Print our Kindergarten Registration Quick Guide Here

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Fast forward (I know this is painful) and imagine your child with a high school diploma. What will the next few years hold for him or her? College or a career training program?

September is College Savings Month to help remind parents that “back to school” also means “soon to college.” As quickly as your child traded pacifiers for pencils, he or she will be applying to colleges and planning for the future. Saving now will help you prepare financially to make those plans a reality.

Virginia529 College Savings Plan (Virginia529) suggests three things you can do to ensure college doesn’t catch you off guard:

• Start saving now. Every dollar saved is a dollar you don’t have to borrow. It doesn’t take much; you can open a Virginia529 college savings account with as little as $25.
• Learn how much college could cost with this College Savings Planner calculator. If you’re already saving, you can even compare your expected contributions to the predicted cost.
• Encourage family and friends to give your child the gift of education by making a contribution to his or her college savings account. It’s always the perfect size, shape and color!

Are you smarter about saving for college than the average parent?
Test your knowledge about saving for college and see if you are smarter than the average parent. You could win a college savings account valued at $529 from Virginia529. To enter, complete this quiz by September 30, 2014.

Virginia529 offers four flexible, affordable, tax-advantaged programs to help families tame the Tuition Monster. For more information on Virginia529’s college savings options, visit Virginia529.com. Follow Virginia529 on Facebook and Twitter for college savings tips, program news and contests.

This article is sponsored by Virginia529.

Moving on to middle school can be an exciting time.  Some children embrace this change while others find it difficult. Here are a few things that parents can do to ease the transition.

School Environment: The expectations are greater in middle school. Students are expected to keep track of and complete multiple assignments. Adjust to the teaching styles of 6 or 7 teachers as opposed to 1 teacher (in most elementary school settings).

• Parents can help their child by selecting an organizer that may work best for the child.

• Parents can also help students keep track of assignments by checking in via the school’s electronic classroom, a virtual environment were assignments and grades are posted.

Peers:  Peer groups may change in middle school due to the merging of other schools. This may mean new peers and or the loss of older peer relationships. At this age, children are exploring new interest and align themselves with peers who share those interests. Children are starting to change physically, cognitively, and, emotionally.

• Continue to praise your child for their accomplishments. Encourage your child’s interest.

• Make time to have conversations with your child. Have a daily check-in with your child about his or her day.

• If problems are starting to arise with schoolwork, check in with your child, and the subject matter teacher to find solutions.

Involvement: Parental involvement in academics may decrease in middle school. Maintain an active presence in your child’s academic career. Children whose parents are involved in their studies have grater potential for academic success.

Priscilla Wright is a licensed professional counselor practicing at Commonwealth Behavioral Health Inc. located in Midlothian, Virginia. Ms. Wright holds a master’s degree in Counselor Education and is currently completing a doctorate in Counseling Psychology. Ms. Wright is also a National Certified Counselor. At Commonwealth Behavioral Health Inc., Ms. Wright works with children, adolescents, and adults on issues to include stress management, co-parenting, as well as anxiety and mood disorders. Ms. Wright believes in a holistic (looking at the person as a whole) approach to practice. Ms. Wright’s research interest includes topics on intellectual disabilities, stress management, and topics regarding family systems.

 

By Dr. Elizabeth M. Vantre

You learned through a parent volunteer that not only did your child’s class get a visit from the ice cream truck for good behavior, but your child got the only A+ on the science test.  Why is it then when your child gets off the bus, you excitedly ask, “how was school,” only to receive a simple, “fine”?  You follow with “What did you do today,” only to receive every mom’s favorite response “stuff.”  The eight hours your child has been gone, a time that was likely filled with a plethora of new experiences, is summed up in one lonely syllable.

Try these tools to elicit more than one word responses from your child:

•    Give your children a chance to decompress.  Give them an opportunity to get a snack and run around for a bit before specifically asking them about their day.  Tell them how great it is to see them when they bounce off of the bus and save the questions for later.

•     Ask open-ended questions.  Questions such as “how was school” or “how are you” lend themselves to one word responses.  Try open-ended questions such as “tell me about school today” or “tell me about the playground at recess.”  Refrain from following up with specific questions like “did you like your teacher,” but rather try open ones such as “tell me about your teacher.”  When picking up my 8 year old from his first day at a brand new school recently, his older siblings peppered him with specific questions only to receive one-word general responses.  When I interjected with “tell me about…” my twelve year old groaned, “Mom ALWAYS says that and I never know what to say.”  While true that he may have to think a little more, he always relays more than a single syllabic response.

•    Remain open, approachable and ready to listen.  Kids will tell you the most surprising things during random moments.  I have found that by being available to listen works wonders.  After my 8 year old survived the inquisition from his siblings, it was actually several hours later that he opened up about his day.  I was sitting on my bed reviewing some papers when he crawled up next to me and started to share thoughts about his teacher and new school.  It can be quiet times like this one or in the car when kids are not face-to-face or it could be among the chaos of dinner prep and homework that kids tend to open up.  Make every effort to listen without judging or jumping right in with specific questions, especially if your child is sharing something that is bothering him.  Actively listen and acknowledge their feelings by saying things such as “That must have been a fun gym class or I’m sorry that happened in lunch, that must have been upsetting.”

•    Games are great to get conversation flowing.  Games such as “High/Low” or “Rose & Thorn” prompt kids to relay the best and worst part of their day. Our family goes around the dinner table nightly highlighting the positive (Roses) and negative happenings (Thorns) of our day.  Sometimes Rose & Thorn will apply to more general happenings such as the highs and lows of summer or particular experiences like a birthday or camp.

Refer to Dr. Liz Vantre’s new book, Ready, Set, Parent: Dr. Moms’ Guide to Parenting, for more expert parenting advice

Ready, Set, Parent is available locally at Hip to Be Round in Carytown as well as online at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

About Dr. Vantre
Dr. Elizabeth M. Vantre studied psychology at Wake Forest University and earned her doctorate in School Psychology from Temple University.  She is the mother of four children (ages 7, 8, 10 and 12) and is currently employed as a psychologist at The Steward School in Richmond, Virginia.  Dr. Vantre has been helping parents find success at home for over fifteen years. She has been employed in a variety of settings including public and private schools, health care facilities, and juvenile detention centers.

 

Dr. Vantre has recently published the book Ready, Set, Parent: Dr. Moms’ Guide to Parenting with her co-author, fellow psychologist, and good friend, Dr. Samantha Dawson.  With a combined 20 years of providing parenting advice both professionally and informally, raising 6 children (Liz has 4, Sam has 2), surviving 14 years of motherhood and enjoying 12 years of friendship, Liz and Sam have enough experience, insight, empathy, practical and proven strategies, real life case examples, and humorous anecdotes to fill a bookshelf. 

 In addition to speaking engagements regarding her book Ready, Set, Parent, she is also a contributor to the website Soccerparenting.com. 

 

Thankfully some creative moms have come up with some small or portable ways to create a homework station wherever you have the space:

DIY Seat Sacks
Scissors & Spatulas

These easy to make cute little sacks hang on the back of a chair to keep papers from cluttering up the table.

Over the Door Organizer
A Bowl Full Of Lemons

Put those doors to work & keep homework and craft supplies in over the door organizers.

Portable Homework StationFirst Home Love Life

Create one of these homework stations for each child and stack them up!

Rustic Wood Homework Station
Love Grows Wild

This cute little homework station is sturdy and easy to move from place to place and fits in nicely with a rustic decor.

DIY Mail/Homework OrganizerNoodlehead

This was originally made to be a mail organizer but we love it for storing school forms, homework and other important school related stuff.

Flip Down Desk
Found on Ana White

Chalkboard by day, desk by homework time.  This chalkboard cleverly conceals a flip down desk.

Vintage Library Cart Homework Station
4 Men 1 Lady

This clever little work station now has me scouring the interwebs for a metal library cart.  This cute vintage inspired work station is color coded for each kid.

Homework Study Station
Mom Advice

I could have used this growing up! For the easily distracted kid (or ones who just can’t resist reaching over and poking their brother in the face) this study station keeps the focus on homework and can be folded up and put away when the work is done.

Lazy Susan Work Station
Home Stories A to Z

I’ve seen lazy susans used to store school and craft supplies before but what’s kinda genius about this one is the clever use of magnets so you can still take your jar without having to worry about the buckets flying off. Smart move, mom!

Laundry Room / Homework Station
Teal and Lime

Who says homework or crafts should be done on in a bedroom or an office?
Borrow some space from an unlikely place, like an over sized laundry room for example.

Have any great ideas on how to maximize a small space during homework time?
Any great organization tips? Tell us in the comments below!

Want more?
Check out our
Back to School Survival Guide for Students

While the idea of waking up at the crack of dawn to prepare lunches, fighting over appropriate school attire and regulating the amount of television watched might have you frazzled, take solace in the fact that you can play a big part in getting your children motivated and excited to tackle a new school year.

Depending on your child’s age, your role in the above-mentioned tips will vary. The following are helpful ideas to ease kids of all ages back into learning mode:

Help Your Child Discover His/Her Learning Style. Because each child is special, with different learning styles and academic needs, it is important to personalize the learning process.  People learn in at least eight different ways, according to the Multiple Intelligences Theory: visually, verbally, physically, mathematically, musically, naturalistically, through group activity or through quiet thinking time. Talk to your child’s teachers about your child’s learning strengths and how best to support them.

Get Back In The Routine. Ease the transition from lazy summer days to the structure of the school year by re-establishing bedtime, mealtime, reading and homework routines. Talk with your child about the importance of structure and how routines help ensure that he is not overtired or overly anxious about schoolwork.

Develop A Family Event Calendar. One of the most helpful tools for getting organized is a family event calendar. To ease the chaos, track school programs, volunteer work and after-school activities. Family time management is essential if you are going to avoid the tumultuous frenzy of disorganization.

• Depending on your children’s ages, this calendar can be on construction paper with large squares to write in all necessary information, or it can be produced on a white board so that it is easy to revise.
• If it is color-coded by family member, you can clearly see who has an activity scheduled and when the event occurs.
• Place the calendar near the telephone, so when a friend’s mother calls to invite your child to a birthday party, you will know instantly whether it fits within your family plans.

Purchase School Supplies In Advance. Avoid the last-minute rush by purchasing supplies at least one week in advance. Take your child.  She can feel excited and in control by choosing her favorite colors and designs.

Be a Cheerleader. Encourage your child to share any concerns he has about returning to school. Reinforce positive feelings by talking with your child about learning and achievement. Support his academic interests and encourage him to get involved in extracurricular activities at school.

See Sylvan Learning Center’s back to school survival tips for students

For more educational resources for children in grades pre-K through 12, please visit www.SylvanLearning.com or call 804-782-2377

Steve Green is the Executive Director and Owner of the Richmond Sylvan Learning Centers, which is the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels with more than 30 years of experience and nearly 800 centers located throughout North America. Sylvan’s trained and Sylvan-certified instructors provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. Sylvan also hosts MomMinded.com, a blog offering tips and resources from moms and education experts. For more information, call 1-800-31-SUCCESS or visit www.sylvanlearning.com

Sylvan Learning Center is a sponsor of Richmondmom.com

Richmond city residents are encouraged to bring their kids along with shot records and insurance information to 400 East Cary Street to get all the necessary immunizations and physicals before the school year starts.

Services available at the Back 2 School Event:

• Vaccinations for daycare, and school-entry
• T-dap booster shots for rising 6th graders
• Physicals for Head Start and elementary school-entry

Walk-in: no appointment needed. Call 482-5500 for more information

If you can’t make the Back 2 School Event, visit the Weekday Immunization Clinic
400 E. Cary Street
Tuesday afternoons & Friday mornings
Walk-in or call for an appointment: 482-5500
School vaccination dates:
*Tuesday August 5, 12, 19, 26 & September 2
*Friday August 1, 8, 15, 22 & September 5

Back 2 School Event
Richmond City Health District
400 East Cary Street
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22nd 8 AM- 2 PM

The school year is coming up, and everyone wants to get off to the right start, but you may be overlooking an important exam in addition to your child’s back to school physical.

We contacted Dr. Inna Marcus, M.D. at the Virginia Eye Institute to tell us a little bit about the importance of getting an eye exam before starting school and a little bit of what to expect at your appointment.

Why are eye exams important before entering school?
It is important to identify vision problems before entering school for two reasons. The first is that poor vision can interfere with learning. Secondly, visual development occurs in early childhood and is completed in early adolescence. Visual development that is interrupted causes amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye. Amblyopia can be due to a need for glasses, the eyes are not aligned or something blocking vision like a cataract. Amblyopia responds best to treatment before age eight. Children with amblyopia who are diagnosed at an early age, preferably before starting school, have the best chance of improving their vision and having normal vision in both eyes throughout life.

How often and at what age should children get eye exams?
Screening for eye problems begins in the newborn nursery when children are screened by the the pediatrician for abnormalities caused by structural problems. This type of screening continues at well visits until age three when the visual acuity can be tested by having the child read an eye chart. Screenings should continue yearly throughout childhood. Any child who fails a screening, has suspected structural or eye movement problems, has medical problems associated with eye problems or has a family history of eye disease should be referred to an eye doctor for a complete exam.

What can parents and kids expect from a routine eye exam?
A complete eye exam, sometimes called a routine eye exam, has five components.
1. Comprehensive history about any eye problems, medical problems and family history of eye problems.
2. Testing the visual acuity with an age appropriate method (ie. matching for younger children and lines of letters for older children).
3. Evaluation of depth perception and muscle balance including tracking and the ability of the eyes to work together.
4. Structural exam of the pupils, eye surface and inner structures including the lens, optic nerve and retina. The pupil must be dilated with special eye drops to allow the doctor to see the inner eye structures. This part of the exam can identify important problems like cataracts, retinoblastoma, coats disease and optic nerve problems.
5. Refraction which is the measurement of the glasses prescription which reveals the ability of the eye to focus light and project a clear image on the retina. Nearsightedness, astigmatism and high farsightedness make the vision  blurry. Children should have the refraction done after dilation which relaxes the the eye. Before dilation the lens, which is very flexible in children, can flex to focus light and give a false refraction. This can result in a glasses prescription that can cause eye strain and headaches.

What are some signs of a vision problem that parents should look out for?
Most children show no signs of vision problems which is why screening is very important. Some signs of eye problems include eye drifting or crossing, squinting, and tilting or turning the face to look at things.

Virginia Eye Institute has 10 offices throughout Central Virginia and services areas including Richmond, Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Prince George, Petersburg, and New Kent.
VEI provides treatment for an entire range of ophthalmic needs, including cataract surgery, retinal disorders, glaucoma care, corneal disorders, pediatric eye care and adult strabismus, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, LASIK and refractive surgery, neuro-ophthalmology, optometry, as well as optical shops for glasses or customized contact lenses

Get 30% discount off eyeglasses, sunglasses & accessories and 10% off contact lenses at VEI with the Richmondmom.com Savvy Saver app (or just print off the page and bring it in!)

Dr. Inna Marcus, M.D. specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus, including amblyopia, ocular motility disorders, pediatric cataracts and glaucoma.  She received her Doctorate of Medicine from New York University following her undergraduate studies at Columbia University.  Dr. Marcus completed her ophthalmology residency at Yale University, and she completed her fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Duke University. She is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Ophtalmology, and the American Association for Pediatric Ophtalmology and Strabismus.

Virginia Eye Institute is a Sponsor of Richmondmom.com

For many students, the first day of school doesn’t only bring new teachers and new friends – it can also be a source of anxiety with homework assignments and tests just around the corner. Starting the school year off on the right foot can help minimize students’ stress levels throughout the year.

Get Cleaning. A dirty, cluttered room is not conducive to studying. Get organized before homework starts piling up.

• Remove seldom-worn clothing.
• Pack away belongings not used on a regular basis.
• For smaller children, label areas so they can easily see where belongings should go.

Carve Out A Homework Spot. Whether it is in your bedroom, the basement, or a family office, find an area where you can work distraction-free and claim it as your official workspace.

• Pick a place that is always available and where you feel comfortable doing schoolwork.
• Stock the area with all of the supplies and tools that are needed to complete homework.

Get Organized. Organization is key to ensure you stay on top of the requirements for each subject.
Use separate, labeled notebooks for each class.

• Create files for each subject. The folders can hold assignments, essays, handouts and notes taken during classes.
• Purchase a planner or calendar to keep track of important dates and deadlines.

Set Educational Goals. Whether it is striving for an A in a certain subject, handing in all homework on time or preparing for tests well in advance, setting goals can help establish a routine for the new year.

• Set goals that are measurable, specific, reasonable and have personal value.

Stay On Schedule. Minimize last minute cramming or deadline mix-ups by creating a detailed school schedule.

• Include all classes, assignments and key dates, such as project deadlines and test dates. Fill in new dates as they arise.
• Schedule specific times for studying, projects and extracurricular activities. The more thorough the schedule, the more helpful it will be to you.

Know The School. If you ever feel swamped with back to school madness, ask for help. Schools assist students with transitioning from one grade to another. Meet with your guidance counselor and/or teachers. If you are still nervous, ask your mom or dad to drop you off at school on the first day of class.

Be Adventurous. Step out of your comfort zone this school year by trying new things academically and in terms of extracurricular activities.

• Try every type of class and/or activity. You never know what your strengths are until you experience as much as you can.
• Challenge yourself. If you have the opportunity, take the hardest classes – not the easiest subjects.
• Ask questions. There is nothing wrong with not always knowing the answer. Asking questions is the best way to learn!

Think Positive. Yes, going back to school means homework and early mornings. It also means reconnecting with old friends, meeting new people, resuming fun extracurricular activities, learning more about your favorite subjects and improving on your last year’s performance.
For more educational resources for children in grades pre-K through 12, please visit www.SylvanLearning.com or call 804-782-2377

Steve Green is the Executive Director and Owner of the Richmond Sylvan Learning Centers, which is the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels with more than 30 years of experience and nearly 800 centers located throughout North America. Sylvan’s trained and Sylvan-certified instructors provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. Sylvan also hosts MomMinded.com, a blog offering tips and resources from moms and education experts. For more information, call 1-800-31-SUCCESS or visit www.SylvanLearning.com

This Article is Sponsored by Sylvan Learning Center of Richmond

It’s official: back to school time is here! Time to save your 5.3%.

School supply items with a retail price of $20 or less and clothing and footwear with a retail price of $100 or less can be purchased tax free August 1-3, 2014.  And while 5.3% may not be all that much, it’s always nice when the price you see on the tag is the actual price your paying at the register (

According to Virginia.gov:

Articles of clothing include any article of wearing apparel and typical footwear intended to be worn on or about the human body. Clothing does not include accessories, sporting equipment or footwear designed primarily for athletic activity or apparel designed primarily for protective use and not usually considered appropriate for everyday wear.

School supply items are limited to items that are commonly used by a student in a course of study and include “school art supplies,” “school instructional materials, and school music supplies.” School supply items do not include computers or any “school computer supplies”.

Stores may chose to absorb the tax on all other items, but you’ll have to check with the retailer first.