Back to School, Back to Sales

Summer is in full swing, complete with warm weather, sunshine, and all that comes with it. So, It comes as no surprise that we’re all looking to soak in every last drop, but at the same time we all know — and perhaps don’t want to believe — the start of the new school year is right around the corner. We need to be thinking about shopping for school supplies sooner rather than later if we want to keep within our budgets — and now is as good a time as any to start.

Before you begin the school shopping frenzy it’s important to find out which stores are offering the best deals, sales, and prices.

By Leah Artman

Although it might be tempting to go to a one-stop shop for all your school shopping needs, you’d be surprised how much you can save on back to school clothes when you shop local and/or secondhand.

Northeast Ohio has several excellent kids consignment stores in the area, including Munchkin’s Kloset in Strongsville, Pete & Polly in Brunswick, Value World, Once Upon a Child and Goodwill, which have several locations throughout the area, just to name a few.

Don’t be tempted to think of these places as thrift shops — consignment stores only choose gently used items to resell, and at a fraction of the cost.

There is so much money to be saved by shopping secondhand.

Visiting your local consignment store and the big box stores are just a few of the easiest ways to save money leading up to the impending new school year. And don’t forget to shop on Ohio’s Annual Tax-Free Weekend from August 4 through 6 to save even more on your back to school shopping trip. The good news is, if you start thinking about school shopping now, you’ll have plenty of time to find the best deals and sales on the items you need before school starts, which will, hopefully, result in less stress for you and your budget.

BACKPACK. The L.L. Bean backpacks are a parent pick for their comfort and durability. They are waterproof and machine washable and come in a variety of sizes, colors and patterns for students in any grade. llbean.com

BENTO BOX. Keep your lunch organized and cut down on single use plastics with these lunch box organizers. They feature leak-proof compartments for different food items, and can easily fit into a lunch box or bag.

Various retailers

WATER BOTTLE. Stay hydrated at school and at activities with the Thermos 12 oz. stainless steel water bottle. This durable water bottle will keep drinks cold, is dishwasher safe and has a sleek design for backpacks. It comes in multiple colors and patterns. Various retailers

Shana O’Malley-Smith

CUSTOM NAME LABELS . Don’t let your child’s important items get mixed up with other classmates. Instead, use custom name labels to easily identify their belongings. These durable, waterproof labels can go in the dishwasher, microwave, freezer or outdoors. oliverslabels.com

AT-HOME SUPPLY KIT. Stay on top of homework and at-home projects with an extra box of school supplies for your home. Stock your kit with sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener, eraser, scissors, glue stick, crayons and markers. It’s also a good idea to stock up on printer ink, printer, notebook and construction paper. Various retailers

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson. The benefits of friendship are endless, regardless of age! Besides increasing happiness and a sense of self-confidence, these important relationships provide social-emotional support and help to increase a child’s capacity for empathy. Andrea Csia, youth librarian at the Garden Valley Branch of Cleveland Public Library, recommends these books to help kids develop and maintain rich friendships.

MEESHA MAKES FRIENDS

By Tom Percival

Meesha is a creative and sweet little girl who feels uncomfortable in social situations, unsure of what to do and say when she is around other children. Snuggle up with your 3- to 6-year-old and this charming book to find out how Meesha learns that finding something in common with someone can be the start of something beautiful.

by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Kristen Cella

This book contains two very funny and engaging stories in one graphic novel, each with a cute activity at the end. Perfect for beginning readers ages 6 to 9, the silly adventures of this unlikely pair of best friends will amuse kids while practicing their reading skills at the same time.

By Elieen KennedyMoore and Christine McLaughlin

Sometimes a more direct, non-fiction approach can be helpful for both kids and parents. Aimed at 6- to 9-year-olds, this title was written by a psychologist and provides practical how-to advice in an entertaining format. This book is a guide to handling friendship challenges, and one that you may have wished you had when you were growing up.

Looking for something family-friendly to watch on these late summer evenings? There are many new releases hitting streaming platforms this month. Whether you’re in the mood for something new, nostalgic or action-packed, there’s something for every family member on the list.

The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge, TV-PG, Netflix

In this high-stakes “Nailed It!” spinoff competition, 10 terrible bakers pick up tips from professional coaches while vying for a sweet cash prize. “Nailed It!” stars Nicole Byer and Jacques Torres welcome celebrity judges like Patton Oswalt, Angela Kinsey and more.

Mummies, PG, Hulu

Three computer-animated mummies from the Egyptian underworld enter the concrete jungle of modern-day London. When chariot rider Thut is chosen to marry the princess, he sends the royal ring to the world of the living to get out of the engagement, unwittingly putting it in the hands of a greedy archeologist. Thut and Princess Nefer now have to retrieve the ring while navigating a whole new world. If they fail, it means the end for Thut and dire consequences for the underworld.

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, PG, Amazon Prime

A rag-tag band of vigilantes who restore order to a terrorized town. There’s a nice balance of humor for kids and adults, making it a perfect pick for family movie nights.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 4, PG, Disney+

Season four of the series will see the Wildcats returning to East High, where they prepare a stage production of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” But, in a meta twist signature to the series, plans are disrupted when Disney announces the long-awaited

“High School Musical 4: The Reunion” movie will shoot on location at their beloved high school.

My Dad the Bounty Hunter: Season 2, TV-Y7, Netflix

An intergalactic bounty hunter takes dad duty to new extremes when his two kids accidentally hitch a ride with him to outer space and crash his mission.

Gabby’s Dollhouse, Season 8, Netflix, TV-Y7, Netflix

Cute cats, quirky crafts and colorful magic! Join kitty enthusiast Gabby and her sidekick Pandy Paws as they team up for a series of animated adventures.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, PG-13, Disney+

The beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

Jurassic Park, PG-13, Hulu

In Steven Spielberg’s 1993 massive blockbuster, a select group of visitors are chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park’s mastermind assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various ferocious predators break free and go on the hunt.

Hair is a big part of what makes someone feel comfortable in their body. Whether you have no hair at all, lots of body hair, natural curly hair, wear a hijab, and have short hair, you are special and unique. Your hair is unique to you and tells a story.

“Hair is a big part of the way we express ourselves,” says Sharee Miller, author of “Don’t Touch My Hair.” I believe that by highlighting all hair as beautiful in its own way, we can keep any child from feeling left out.”

Some people may feel insecure about their hair color and texture. As kids get older, they will often notice hair growing in places they didn’t expect. Whether it’s on their heads or other parts of their bodies, understanding their natural hair is part of growing up. Here’s some advice to help your kids manage and stay positive about all of their strands.

For Miller, she has had many experiences in which people have touched her natural hair without her permission.

“I wrote “Don’t Touch My Hair” because of my own personal experiences,” Miller says. “At the same time, I was reading a lot of articles where other people were sharing similar encounters with friends and strangers. Especially children. I wanted to create a story that

By Georgia Lattas

highlighted this experience and give children the words to stand up for themselves.”

Miller says it is important for young Black girls to embrace their natural, curly hair.

In an August 2016 study done by Perception Institute, “The Good Hair” found that one in five Black women feel social pressure to straighten their hair for work and one in four Black women have difficulty finding products for their hair.

“When I was younger, I rarely saw characters that looked like me or had hair like mine,” Miller says. “Because of this, I felt like I needed to change my hair for it to be beautiful and acceptable. I know seeing yourself reflected in a positive light does a lot for your self-esteem and sense of self. By having these positive representations out in the world, I hope no little Black girl feels like she needs to change her hair to be beautiful.”

Author Cozbi A. Cabrera believes it is important that all young Black girls learn to embrace their hair. Her book, “My Hair’s A Garden” was inspired by an interaction she had at her child’s school.

“Her daughter and my daughter went to the same preschool, and she was a white mother, and her daughter that she had adopted was African American, and so I remember her pulling me aside by the cubbies, and saying, ‘I noticed your daughter’s hair is always so well groomed, and it’s so shiny and beautiful. Do you have any tips?’” Cabrera says. “I mentioned to her oil, and that her daughter’s hair would require oil and I could see her visibly recoiling because oil is something that helps remove, not something you add in on purpose.”

Cabrera says it is important for young Black girls to celebrate and be proud of their hair. She acknowledges that children often get bullied for any characteristic that might be a little different.

“Sometimes it’s a matter of embracing what you have, and knowing it’s innate beauty,” Cabrera says. “I think there’s a danger when self-loathing is allowed for a child. It really does have an impact on the psyche and how they move and navigate in the world and how they feel about themselves.”

If you are raising an African American child, and have questions about how to style their hair, Cabrera says people are very open to educating and helping other parents.

“People are very generous, particularly when it comes to our children,” Cabrera says. “It may even pain the other mother to see the child sort of in this neglected state, and so she would really want to open up her heart in that way. There are lots of YouTubers that could demonstrate as well.”

Cabrera has learned to love her hair and encourages other young Black girls to feel the same way.

While it is important to celebrate your hair, this is not always easy, especially for young children. New body hair growth during puberty can be a concern for many kids.

The CS Mott Children’s Hospital distributed their National Poll on Children’s Health to parents last year and asked them about how their children felt about their appearance. Out of the children surveyed, 27% were insecure about their hair.

“I think just normalizing body hair is super important,” says Sarah Ball, who is an advanced practice registered nurse and a certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Senders Pediatrics. “It’s important to know that every kid is different and that everyone’s journey with puberty is different. They might not have hair today but that might change in a couple of months and same thing with their friends. I think a lot of kids struggle with their body image and self-esteem during puberty because so much emphasis is put specifically on the body and the changes that are happening to it.”

Ball explains that girls typically begin puberty around age 8 or 9 and boys typically begin puberty about a year or two later than girls. To avoid children experiencing uncomfortableness and insecurity surrounding their changing body, she says it’s important for parents to talk to their child about puberty before it begins.

“Kids like to connect and like to hear that you have gone through these types of things,” says Dr. Keili Mistovich, pediatrician and co-founder of Greater Cleveland Pediatrics. “All of our bodies change and adapt and go through puberty in our own special way. There’s nothing wrong with you if you start puberty earlier or later than others.”

She adds it is important for kids to know there is not one ‘right’ body type and there is no ‘one size fits all’ look to puberty. Some kids may be worried if they are growing too much hair or if they aren’t growing hair at all, but Mistovich says this is all normal.

“If they do happen to be a kid who has a lot of body hair, and they don’t like having a lot of body hair, they don’t necessarily just have to live with that,” she says. “And I think it’s important also that if a kid really wants to shave or thin their hair or if they are a girl who’s got facial hair and they want to remove it, there’s certainly things that adults can help kids with to allow them to feel some control

It is important to acknowledge whether your child wants their body hair removed or not. Some girls may want to remove their armpit hair or leg hair or start tweezing their eyebrows. Some boys may start growing back hair, stomach hair or facial hair and may want it removed. Remind your child that having body hair is not a bad thing, and if having no body hair makes them feel confident, then that is their choice. Have a conversation with your child and decide what is the best avenue for them to feel comfortable in their own skin.

“I think that it is important to give kids a lot of autonomy in this area and to help them and to reassure them that there isn’t a right answer for this,” Mistovich says. “If they decide that they want to shave, teach them how to do it, and teach them the right ways of taking care of their body hair and how to properly remove it. What we really need to be communicating to kids is there’s no right answer to any of this. It’s really about embracing who you are and being comfortable in your own skin and knowing that people are different.”