BACK TO SCHOOL

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS INSPIRE NEW LEADERS

BACKtoSCHOOL FALL 2018

39 MATH MATTERS! SMART SUPPLIES FOR EVERY CLASS EMPOWERING YOUTH ACTIVISM

APPAREL, SNEAKERS & MORE

BACKtoSCHOOL

FALL 2018

60 STUDENT ACTIVISM

Today’s youth are on a mission for change

PROVIDED BY WILLIAM WINSLOW

FEATURES Math champion 46 Actress 51 Danica McKellar is spreading her passion for numbers

After-school enrichment Boys & Girls Clubs of America promotes leadership

66

Real talk Keeping kids calm in an unsettled world 3

FALL 2018

UP FRONT 10

Healthy lunch options Wholesome alternatives pack a punch

18

Useful tech Resources to support your child’s goals

21

Lessons in shopping The dollars and sense of back-to-school budgeting

24

Fill your cart Backpacks, lunch boxes and essential supplies

Look smart Fashion picks to walk the halls in style

40

Helping hands Kids In Need Foundation donates $1 billion in school supplies

42

Investing in education Average teacher salaries vary widely by state

44

10

Money matters Helpful facts about 529 college savings plans

DEPARTMENTS Elementary 74

Family fitness Turn off the screens and get moving

77

80

77

By the book Nurturing your child’s love of reading

High School

Raise a planner

90

Middle School 82

86

4 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

94

A different path Alternative options to a four-year college

Be a good sport Forging character from competition

Class Act

School uniforms

96

Are dress policies a help or hindrance?

ON THE COVER: Find everything you need for a successful school year in this issue.

PHOTO BY: Getty Images

Ready to launch Instilling skills kids need to leave the nest

Teaching key organizational skills

Remembering an icon Celebrating the legacy of TV’s Fred Rogers

All product prices and availability are subject to change.

JOHN SAMORA/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC; GETTY IMAGES

34

NO

Artificial Growth Hormones*

NO

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Have an after-school with

TruMoo! *No signiďŹ cant difference has been shown between milk derived from cows treated with the artiďŹ cial growth hormone rbST and non-rbST-treated cows.

Nutritious, delicious and fun after school See more at trumoo.com

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS PREMIUM PUBLICATION EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jeanette Barrett-Stokes jbstokes@usatoday.com

As a parent of three, Mary Helen Berg knows firsthand that what students do after school can be critical to their success and healthy development. In this issue, she writes about after-school programs, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and talks with some teen club members who found that such offerings provided them not just a safe place to go, but a haven of community, opportunity and mentoring that encouraged them to reach for the stars (page 51).

Laura Petrecca has spent two decades unearthing truths as a journalist for some of the nation’s top publications.

In addition to USA TODAY, her work has appeared in publications such as Real Simple, Men’s Health and the New York Post. In reporting the story on how to help kids cope in an unpredictable world (page 66), Laura was reminded that resilience is a teachable trait: “If a child learns problem-solving skills, his or her confidence will likely grow, and in turn, any anxieties will hopefully decrease.”

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jerald Council jcouncil@usatoday.com MANAGING EDITOR Michelle Washington mjwashington@usatoday.com ISSUE EDITOR Debbie Williams EDITORS Amy Sinatra Ayres Tracy Scott Forson Patricia Kime Sara Schwartz ISSUE DESIGNER Lisa M. Zilka DESIGNERS Amira Martin Miranda Pellicano Gina Toole Saunders INTERN Jordan Pecar CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Matt Alderton, Mary Helen Berg, Marissa Cass, Susanne Cervenka, Hollie Deese, Gina Roberts-Grey, Quinn Kelley, Zoe King, Wendy Killeen, Katherine Reynolds Lewis, Teddy Nykiel, Laura Petrecca, Rina Rapuano, Patrick Ryan, Taylor Seely, Debbie Swanson, Russ Wiles

ADVERTISING

PROVIDED BY THE CONTRIBUTORS

VP, ADVERTISING Patrick Burke | (703) 854-5914 pburke@usatoday.com

Rina Rapuano has written for such publications as The Washington Post, Food Network and the Travel Channel. The mother of two jumped at the chance to shine a light on student activists (page 60): “These teens were incredibly inspirational, and speaking with them gave me hope for the future — as well as a few ideas for getting my own children more involved.”

FACEBOOK Facebook.com/usatodaymags

Over the past 15 years, Gina Roberts-Grey has interviewed hundreds of actors, singers and more on a variety of health, parenting and well-being topics. She was thrilled to chat with actress and education advocate Danica McKellar and pick her brain about making math fun for kids of all ages (page 46): “I could have used her tips for parents when I was looking over my son’s homework!”

TWITTER @USATODAYMAGS

INSTAGRAM @usatodaymags

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Justine Madden | (703) 854-5444 jmadden@usatoday.com

FINANCE BILLING COORDINATOR Julie Marco This is a product of

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved herein, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or reproduced in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written consent of USA TODAY. The editors and publisher are not responsible for any unsolicited materials.

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Boise, Boise Paper, Boise POLARIS, and Quality You Can Trust are trademarks of Boise White Paper, L.L.C. or its affiliates. Box Tops for Education and associated words and designs are trademarks of General Mills, used under license. © General Mills. For more information on Boise Paper’s trademark use, go to: http://www.BoisePaper.com/TermsofUse/#Trademarks.

BACK TO SCHOOL

UP FRONT FOOD 10

|

TECHNOLOGY 18

|

SHOPPING 21

|

FASHION 34

|

FINANCES 40

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

ROOM TO GROW Boys & Girls Clubs of America offers kids a safe place to learn, thrive and create. See story on page 51.

9

up front | food

Lunch for the Bunch Genius hacks to help you pack healthier options

I

t’s difficult enough to fix food kids want to eat at home.

But, what about healthy food they’ll want to eat at school?

Phoenix-based food writer, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller knows that this struggle is real. She lovingly prepared a lunch comprised of ciabatta sandwiches, fresh salsa, adzuki bean chips, pepper jack cheese and yogurt and was understandably miffed when her son, Luke, told her, “I threw the

10 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

sandwich out.” Why? He said it was too big.

So Miller started over. And she prepared an entire list of kidfriendly, grab-and-go food items that you can try in your child’s next lunch. The best part? They’re fun and healthy, Miller says. “I plan ahead, pack them with love and strive for a healthy balance of complex carbohydrates, protein and fiber.” Here are some options that can you add to your lunch planning repertoire:

JOHN SAMORA/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

BY WENDY KILLEEN

WRAP STATION

uSmoked turkey, baked or smoked ham and roast beef uSwiss, cheddar and pepper jack cheese uBaby spinach, romaine and red lettuce uSliced tomatoes, roasted red peppers and pickles uMustard (yellow, Dijon, honey), mayonnaise and hummus

GETTY IMAGES; JOHN SAMORA/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

food

examples

prep

VEGETABLES

Bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, celery, green beans, snap peas

Wash and slice larger vegetables into thin strips

WHOLE FRUIT

Apples, pears, nectarines, plums, grapes, cherries, berries

Wash and place smaller fruit such as grapes and berries in plastic containers

MELON

Cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon

Cube or use a melon baller, then place in plastic container (include a fork)

CHEESE

Sticks or slices

Cube or wrap individual slices

LUNCH MEAT

Turkey, ham, roast beef, bologna

Roll meat and cheese into cigar-shaped pieces and include condiment packets or containers of dressing for dipping

DIPS AND TOPPINGS

Salsa, guacamole, bean dip, hummus, cottage cheese, ranch dressing

Portion into small bags or single-serve containers

Miller also recommends setting up food stations to help teach kids how to prep and plan their meals. And getting your kids involved means they are choosing what they like, so they are more likely to eat it later.

She suggests theme stations such as wraps, soups, mini pizzas, bowls of rice or pasta and smoothies.

For a wrap station, let kids tuck their favorite fillings into a flour tortilla or pita. Miller says mini pizzas or antipasti are a “more healthful version of (their)

prepackaged counterparts.” Kids get to choose what to pack alongside their pizza “base.” All they need to do when it’s lunchtime is spoon the sauce, sprinkle the cheese and add toppings. (Don’t assemble in advance or the bread will get soggy.)

A pasta or rice station offers complex carbohydrates plus protein and veggies. Cook a pound of spiral pasta or a cup of rice and let the kids pick their ingredients, then add a light dressing, balsamic vinegar or olive oil, if desired.

PIZZA OR ANTIPASTI STATION

uMini whole-wheat pita pockets or whole-wheat sandwich thins uPasta or pizza sauce (pack in a small, reusable plastic container) uFresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini) or shredded mozzarella cheese uCured meats, such as pepperoni, salami and ham uRed and green bell-pepper slices uFresh or steamed broccoli florets uSliced olives

PASTA OR RICE STATION

uCubed cheese, crumbled feta cheese or grated Parmesan cheese uGrilled chicken breast, diced or tuna chunks (from a pouch) uBlack beans (canned, rinsed and drained) uCherry or grape tomatoes, shredded carrots, shredded red cabbage, diced celery or diced cucumber uSliced olives uPickled peppers

11

up front | food

Mott’s Sensibles drinks contain no added sugars and no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors and are available in apple raspberry, apple pineapple and apple cranberry. $12.43 for a 32-pack, Walmart

Good Health avocado oil sea salt kettle chips are gluten-free and made of three simple ingredients: potatoes, avocado oil and a dusting of sea salt. $3.49 for a 5-ounce bag, freshdirect.com

Pack a Punch Try these healthy options for school-day lunches

DON’T SETTLE FOR SUGAR- and salt-filled snacks.

These products provide the tastes kids love, made with wholesome, natural ingredients.

NurturMe organic ancient grain cookies are glutenand dairy-free and include a daily serving of probiotics. $12.87 for three boxes, Walmart

Inspired by kid favorites such as mac ‘n cheese, Snikiddy baked cheese puff snacks are USDA-certified organic and nut-free. $28.68 for 12 bags, myorganicgrocer. com

12 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

PopCorners are a light, crunchy snack made with high-quality ingredients such as non-GMO Project Verified corn. $1.49 for a 5-ounce bag, Rite Aid

Choose your favorite flavors - such as beet or Brussels sprout - or get a variety pack of Vegan Rob’s snack puffs, which are kosher, non-GMO and gluten-free. $45 for 24 snack bags, veganrobs.com

Sweetened only with fruit juice, Honest Kids USDA-certified organic drink pouches have just 35 calories and less than half the sugar of some juice boxes. $3.69 for 10-pack, Target

Enjoy Life grain and seed bars come in multiple flavors and are packed with plantbased protein to keep kids full and focused. $4.25 for a box of five bars, iherb.com

GETTY IMAGES; PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES

BY HOLLIE DEESE

Choose from OVER 80 full-length Scholastic titles from beginning readers to teens

Visit FeedingReading.com to learn more

®, TM, © 2018 Kellogg NA Co. TM ® & © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. Send each receipt separately. Receipts must be submitted within 30 days of purchase and no later than 10/30/18. Book credits must be redeemed by 12/18/18 at 11:59p.m., EST. Limit 10 books per participant Must be a U.S. resident, 13 years of age or older, and a registered member of Kellogg’s Family Rewards®. See FeedingReading.com for full list of participating products.

13

NO NUTS, NO COMPROMISE.

up front | food

15-MINUTE BANANA BREAD-FL AVORED POPCOR N SNACK Ingredients 1 cup walnuts 1 cup banana chips, divided 4 cups popcorn, Skinny Pop brand ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, grated ¼ teaspoon ginger, ground ¼ teaspoon allspice

Smart Snacks Kids will give these healthy DIY treats an A+

JESSICA GAVIN

Jessica Gavin, food blogger

F

ood blogger Jessica Gavin is an expert at unraveling the science behind flavorful, healthier cooking and sharing that know-how on her blog, Jessica Gavin — Culinary Scientist (jessicagavin.com). She loves developing recipes for delicious food, beverages and children’s treats and sharing her simple, family-friendly tips with her readers. She created these healthy and satisfying snacks that you can make to keep you and your kids fueled for the school year ahead.

Instructions Heat a small pan over medium heat. Add walnuts and toast for 5 minutes until crunchy, tossing every minute for even toasting. Turn off heat and set pan aside.

Add 1/2 cup of banana chips to a blender or food processor. Process until powder forms, about 10 seconds. Transfer contents to a small bowl and set aside.

Add popcorn to a medium-size bowl. Add in cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice. Toss to combine until the popcorn is evenly coated. Add 2 tablespoons of the ground banana chips and stir to combine. (Some will stay at the bottom of the bowl but mix as best you can.)

Add in 1/2 cup of whole banana chips and walnuts.

Store in an airtight container for up to one week, or divide into five individual resealable bags as a portable snack.

Note: The ground banana chips are optional; the popcorn will still have lots of flavor without the banana powder if you don’t have a blender or are tight on time.

You can also skip toasting the walnuts; however, it adds crunchiness and brings out the flavor.

15

up front | food

R ASPBER RY BAR S ½ cup coconut oil, softened to room temperature ¾ cup pure maple syrup, or 1 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ½ cup sliced almonds, plus 2 tablespoons for topping 1½ cups white whole wheat flour, or whole wheat flour 1½ cups old-fashioned oats ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup seedless raspberry jam, such as Knott’s Berry Farm 1 cup raspberries, fresh Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 9-by-9-inch or 12.5-by-9inch pan with foil, lightly grease the foil with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Set aside.

With a hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment, beat coconut oil and maple syrup or brown sugar on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until combined. Add the vanilla

and whisk for 30 seconds until incorporated.

In a separate bowl, combine almonds, flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and beat on low speed until blended and crumbly. Remove 1 1/4 cups of the mixture and set it aside.

Add the remaining mixture into the prepared pan. Use the bottom of a greased measuring cup or your fingers to press the mixture evenly into the pan.

Slightly melt the jam in a microwave-safe bowl for 15 seconds at a time, stirring in between and continuing to heat until the jam is easily spreadable.

Spread the raspberry jam over the crust, and then top with raspberries, distributed evenly throughout the pan. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture and 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds over the top.

Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the top is light golden brown and the jam is bubbling around the edges.

Cool completely before cutting into bars. Recipe makes approximately 20 bars, depending on how large you cut them.

BAK ED CINNAMON APPLE CHIPS Ingredients 2 apples (use your favorite variety) 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, sifted 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Instructions Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, set aside. Sift 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar into a bowl.

Add 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon to the powdered sugar. Gently whisk to combine the sugar and cinnamon, set aside.

Wash and dry the apples. Thinly slice the apples using a mandolin, to 1/16 inch. If you’re using a knife, try to slice the apples to no larger than 1/8 inch. Remove the seeds from the individual slices.

Spread the apple slices onto the lined baking pans, making one single layer. About 15 slices should fit comfortably on a half-sheet pan.

Transfer the cinnamon and sugar mixture into a sifter. Gently sprinkle each apple slice with a thin coating of the mixture, then turn over the apple slices and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar.

Bake for 1 hour, then flip and bake for an additional hour. Depending on the thickness of the apples, continue to cook for extra time if needed, until crispy.

16 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

JESSICA GAVIN

Ingredients

up front | tech

Tech Tools Six resources to support your child’s goals

BY DEBBIE SWANSON

I

18 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

From tracking physical activity to monitoring sleep, a Fitbit can help your teen adopt a healthier lifestyle. Choose a watch, clip or wristband, in colors to please every personality. $99.95 and up, fitbit.com

HEADSPACE

EVERNOTE

Forgetfulness becomes a thing of the past when your student gets on board with an organizational app such as Evernote.

It’s useful for list making, keeping track of ideas, organizing links and more.

Free; MAC OS 10.11 + , iOS 10.3+, Android 4.42

FITBIT

FOODUCATE

The Fooducate app can help hone your child’s ability to make smarter eating choices and support diet and fitness goals.

It includes a fun scanning feature to help them identify healthier options on the spot.

Free; iOS 9+, Android 5.0+

From academics to sports to friend issues, a child’s mind has plenty of reasons to go into overload.

Meditation apps such as the popular Headspace teach valuable skills for quieting the mind and squelching the inner critic.

A free trial and various subscription options are available.

Desktop, iOS 9+, Android 4+

MEDISAFE

KHAN ACADEMY

If your child has homework questions — or a curious mind — turn to Khan Academy’s app, which offers instruction in most standard subjects, such as math, science and humanities, as well as other areas, including test prep and career planning.

Free; Desktop, Android 4.1+, iOS 8+

For kids who require regular medication, the Medisafe app can help keep them on track for daily doses while easing your own worries.

It can even be synchronized for up to six family members.

Free; iOS 10.0, Android KitKat and above PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES

t may seem too good to be true: a way to help your child stay ahead of deadlines, make healthier food choices or tackle homework assignments — without a parental reminder. When used properly, phone apps and other tech resources can play a supportive role in fostering good habits and independence in your child.

“I view apps as an extra tool for my teenage patients to use in addition to parental support,” says Rachel Gow, licensed clinical psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University. She says the key to success is to focus on an area your child has expressed interest in addressing.

If your daughter just isn’t invested in eating more veggies, for example, no app can help. “Beware of (those) that promote rigid behaviors and lead to guilt or shame,” Gow advises.

For best results, try the technology yourself first, and check on your child’s progress periodically. Here are six popular options:

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up front | shopping

Lessons in Shopping The dollars and sense of back-to-school budgeting

BY DEBBIE WILLIAMS

JYLARE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY; GETTY IMAGES

J

ordan Page knows a thing or two about bargain shopping.

The Salt Lake City-based mom has five kids under age 8, with another due this year. She shares her frugal tips and financial wisdom on her popular website (funcheaporfree.com), @funcheaporfree which she started in 2011 Follow Jordan on to chronicle how she and Instagram for family her husband dug their budgeting tips and way out of crippling debt money-saving in just one year. “I started strategies. the website to share our progress, and it took off like wildfire,” she says. “I quickly became a go-to everyday finance and frugal-living expert.”

Page has made several guest appearances on network TV shows, including Rachael Ray, the Today Show and Good Morning America, and runs a budgeting program (budgetbootcamp. com) that includes instructional videos, practical exercises, online resources and live Q&A sessions.

Her advice for purchasing back-toschool clothing? Have your kids do do it: the shopping. Really. “The best way uSet a reasonable budget. Page to make your life easier is to teach admits this can be tricky and depends your kids the tools they need for on the cost of living in your area. In adulthood. And the way to get them general, she recommends $75 to $150 to appreciate everything they have for an elementary-age child, $100 to is to give them control and let them $200 for a middle schooler and $200 to learn it for themselves,” she says. $250 for a high school student.

Here’s how she suggests you uGive your child cash in an

envelope. uProvide a detailed list of the items your child needs to purchase. For example: two pair of jeans, two pair of shoes, six shirts, one jacket, etc. uDrive them to the mall and let them shop. If your kids are too young to shop by themselves, then accompany them, but ultimately let

21

up front | shopping

SHOP LIK E A PRO Jordan Page, creator of the popular funcheaporfree.com blog, offers these tips for finding budget-friendly school supplies, clothes and accessories: WAIT FOR SALES At the end of the buying season, when school supplies are discounted, stock up for next year.

This includes basics such as notebooks, pens and markers and accessories such as backpacks and lunch boxes.

BE PATIENT Consider buying one or two new outfits for the first few weeks of school and then wait for the fashions to go on sale.

22 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

BUY USED Check sites like Craigslist for deals on used musical instruments, sports gear and even textbooks. You can also find amazing deals at local consignment stores such as Plato’s Closet and Kid to Kid. CLIP COUPONS Search online for coupon codes and always check a retailer’s website for coupons before making in-store or online purchases.

GETTY IMAGES

them make the final decision on try again next year.’ Don’t give in. what they purchase. “By 8 years Don’t bail them out. Don’t give old they should be able to make them more money. Don’t return most of their decisions, with some the items for them and buy better guided help from things.” you,” Page says.

This may “By 12 years seem radical, old they should but Page stresses WHERE TO be 100 percent that it’s worth it.

SHOP capable of buying “You are doing Gymboree: For sales 100 percent of your kids no on clothing for younger their own stuff.” favors by giving children Ultimately, them everything Page adds, this they want — Nordstrom Rack: For is a life lesson as regardless of deep discounts on well as a financial their age. Delayed high-end brands one. “If they lose gratification and the money, buy patience are Zulily.com: For deals something that the two major on brands such as Nike doesn’t fit, buy things our new and Under Armor things they don’t generations need, blow it all are lacking on video games (my generation or buy things that they decide included). … Your kids will not die they don’t like one month later, if they don’t have all the hippest tough luck. Just say ‘Oh, well, we’ll and greatest right now.”

BUY OFF-SEASON Watch for big-ticket items like formal dresses (for school dances), sporting equipment, winter coats and seasonal shoes when they are on sale in the off season for big discounts.

up front | shopping

Perfect Packs Tote school supplies in style

BY MARISSA CASS

W ITH DIVERSE BACKPACK OPTIONS that are both fun and functional, there’s something for every kid’s taste.

Fjallraven Kanken

backpacks are simple, come in a variety of colors and are designed to alleviate back problems in children. $80, fjallraven.us

SMART DESIGN

The exterior of

is made from recycled water bottles. $49, parklandmfg. com

The Mackenzie Critter Shark backpack comes in two sizes and is customizable. $49.50 to $59.50, potterybarnkids. com

Laura Ashley’s colorful

Kylie Kids’ backpack will brighten up the school day. $19.99, target.com

24 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES

Parkland’s Meadow Gray Dragon backpack

Prepare for a healthy classroom.

Kills 99.9% of germs*

What comes next is everything. *On hard non-porous surfaces. Use as directed. Keep out of reach of children. Š 2018 The Clorox Company.

up front | shopping

Lunch Love Make mealtime memorable with cool containers

SOUP’S ON

The Twist and

Seal “Lidless” lunch box keeps lunch hot

BY ZOE KING

for four hours. $25, uncommongoods. com

PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES

B ACK TO SCHOOL MEANS back to packed lunches. Get your kids excited for lunchtime with these fun and functional picks:

This handy

convertible lunch bag

turns into a placemat. $32.99, wayfair.com

Cheeky Kids’ insulated lunch bag is out of this

world. $9.99, target. com

Kids will love this friendly Eric Carle

Brown Bear lunch bag.

$21.99, jcp.com

Vaya Tyffyn insulated lunch box with Bagmat

stainless steel container. $59, amazon.com

27

up front | shopping

Stock Up Start the year off right with these smart supplies

BY QUINN KELLEY

ONE OF THE BEST parts of going back to school is all the cool gear.

Hit the books in style with these finds for every grade:

POP OF COLOR Yoobi’s cactus pencil case and Doodle Icon pencils. $5.99 for the

case, $2.99 for the pencils, yoobi.com

Nalgene’s Grip-N-Gulp water bottle has a spill-

free design, so it won’t leak in your child’s backpack or lunchbox. $15.65, amazon.com

28 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

Your child can make a colorful statement with these Pilot Precise Deco Collection pens. $11.44, walmart.com

The ban.do Get

It Together folio

comes in six fun prints. $34 to $45, bando.com

PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES

Kids can access thousands of popular apps — and parents have flexible controls — with the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet. $129.99, amazon.com

up front | shopping

HIGH TECH

The lightweight

Acer Swift 3 laptop is powerful, sleek and fits easily in a backpack. starts at $649.99, acer.com

Out of Print carries a variety of clever pouches, including this composition book design. $12, outofprint.com

to blue right in kids’ hands. $4.47, in-store only at Walmart

30 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

trendy metallic shades. $69.99, satechi.net

Cocoon’s SLIM backpack fits up to a 15.6-inch laptop, 10inch tablet, documents and gadgets all at once. $79.99, cocooninnovations.com

Scosche’s ClipSync USB Lightning cable can

be easily attached to a backpack. $14.99, scosche.com

PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES

Fiskars Color Change kids scissors turn from purple

Satechi Bluetooth aluminum wireless headphones come in four

Anybody can be strong if they just believe.

God gave me the power of strength.

Even though it might be hard, you have to try.

Children find strength in God’s love. What if we all did?

Along with a strong and caring home life, we believe involvement in a faith community gives children inner strength that helps them manage changes and challenges better. The start of a new school year is an important time to find sources of strength.

Bring your family to a United Methodist Church near you to learn more about the strength and resilience children find in God’s unconditional love.

Watch videos at RETHINKCHURCH.org

up front | shopping

Hot Looks & Cool Kicks Kids will walk the halls in style in these fashion picks

raphic BOY: G -$19.95; 7.95 tee, $1 5; corduroy 49.9 vest, $ ts, $39.95 pan .95; st, $49 5, e V : L GIR 32.9 pant, $ Cadet end.com lands

34 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

Girls slub-knit fleece hoodie. $19.99, oldnavy.com

PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES

Girls graphic tee, $24.95; denim jeggings, $39.95, landsend.com

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Core Ox sneakers. $49.99, zappos.com

Cat & Jack boys button-down in plaid. $14.99, Target

Striped rugby shirt, $39.95; cargo jogger, $34.95, landsend.com

Girls French-terry Flamingo romper. $22.99, oldnavy.com

Boys graphic Frenchterry sweatshirt. $22, oldnavy.com

Adidas’ Gazelle kid sneaker in icy pink. $44.98, nordstrom.com

Nike’s Air Max 270 Flyknit sneakers. $170, nordstrom.com

35

up front | fashion

Special Delivery Go back-to-school shopping from the comfort of your home

BY HOLLIE DEESE AND DEBBIE WILLIAMS

FASHION SUBSCRIPTION BOXES AREN’T just for grown-ups. These services send you complete outfits customized to fit your child’s size and style.

GOOD CAUSE

Kidbox curates from brands including Splendid, Guess, Adidas, Puma and DKNY in sizes 2T to 14. Each box contains six to seven items and costs $98, and for every Kidbox purchased, a new clothing item is donated to a child in need. kidbox. com

36 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

DIVERSE TASTES

PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES

Stitch Fix’s new kids service provides clothing in sizes 2T to14 across a range of tastes. Each delivery includes eight to12 items personalized to your child’s style and interests.

The head-to-toe looks range from $10 to $35 per item. A $20 styling fee goes toward each purchase, and if you buy every item in the box you receive a 25 percent discount on the order. stitchfix.com

ON TREND

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up front | fashion

The Maddie in Midnight Peony and Paige Plum frames

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The Eyes Have It Kiddos will look sharp in these smart frames

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T

oday’s kids know that eyeglasses are for more than just seeing the chalkboard. Help them make a statement in frames for every style and personality.

Zenni’s frames let your kids pick the shape and color that suit them best, such as these square glasses in purple (208317) and rectangle glasses in green (208124). $12.95, zennioptical.com 38 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

Warby Parker makes versions of some of its popular frames in sizes appropriate for kids as young as 4, including Chamberlain in Oak Barrel, Tea Rose Fade and Lyle in Oxford Blue Crystal. Starting at $95, select Warby Parker stores

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Helping Y Hands Nonprofit donates $1 billion in school supplies

40 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

ou don’t have to be an education expert to know that a backpack stuffed with paper, pencils, scissors, glue, rulers and hand sanitizer goes a long way to ensure that students are classroom-ready when they start the new school year.

And for many students, those staples are provided by the philanthropic efforts of organizations like the Kids In Need Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free school supplies nationally to those in need. Whether your school district is dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster or located in a low-income community, the foundation is there to help. Since its inception in 1995, it has distributed $1

billion in school supplies, directly benefiting more than 6 million students and 200,000 teachers.

“When we provide students with the tools they need in the classroom, we are sending them a For more message information, that we care visit kinf. about their org. success,” says Dave Smith, the foundation’s executive director.

“Our surveys show us that when kids have the school supplies they need, their classroom participation increases, their homework completion rates improve, absences decrease and teachers see improvement in student behavior,”

Smith adds. “Our country’s future depends on educated citizens, and we believe school supplies are a necessity that every child deserves.”

Through these four programs, Kids In Need has been a resource to schools and students across the country: uNational network of 40 resource centers where teachers shop for free supplies. uSecond Responder initiative that distributes supplies to schools affected by natural disasters. uSchool Ready Supplies program that provides backpacks and bulk supplies to students. uTeacher Supply Boxes program, which assists eligible educators with essential supplies.

KIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION

up front | finances

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up front | finances

Investing in Education Which U.S. states pay their teachers the most?

BY SUSANNE CERVENK A

T

eachers in some of the highest paid states make nearly twice what their colleagues do in the states that pay the least, according to an Asbury Park (N.J.) Press report.

And in some cases, the gaps in average teacher pay can be as much as $25,000 for neighboring states.

The Asbury Park Press analyzed salary

data for pre-K through grade 12 teachers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and ranked the states by average salary.

The salaries are from May 2017, the most recent data available.

The Press compared those salaries with U.S. News & World Report’s education and affordability rankings for states in 2018.

Here’s a look at the top rankings:

1

NEW YORK | Average salary: $76,680 New York leapfrogged Alaska in the latest report as the state with the highest paid teachers. It’s among the least affordable states and comes in the middle of the pack in education rankings, according to U.S. News & World Report.

2

ALASKA | Average salary: $76,134

3

CONNECTICUT | Average salary: $74,806

The average pay for Alaska’s roughly 10,000 teachers is higher than most of the country, but the state is one of the most costly places to live and also lands toward the bottom of U.S. News & World Report’s education ranking.

Connecticut is one of the best states in the country for primary and secondary education, coming in near the top of U.S. News & World Report’s rankings. But it’s also a pricey place to live, according to the publication’s affordability rankings.

4

CALIFORNIA | Average salary: $71,666 California is one of the country’s largest states and has the largest pool of educators, with 422,000 pre-K to grade 12 teachers. It also ranks as the second most-expensive place in the country to live, coming in behind Hawaii.

5

MASSACHUSETTS | Average salary: $69,219 Massachusetts edged out New Jersey to join the top five states for teacher pay. It’s also the best state for pre-K to grade 12 education, according to U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, but falls in the bottom five states for affordability.

42 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

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New York, $76,680 Alaska, $76,134 Connecticut, $74,806 California, $71,666 Massachusetts, $69,219 New Jersey, $68,294 Virginia, $66,389 Rhode Island, $64,261 Maryland, $63,268 Oregon, $63,074 Pennsylvania, $62,062 Minnesota, $61,389 Illinois, $61,132 Michigan, $60,264 Washington, $59,483 Vermont, $58,578 Ohio, $57,377 Hawaii, $57,053 Wyoming, $56,326 Delaware, $56,282 Nebraska, $56,061 Texas, $55,310 Nevada, $54,893 New Mexico, $54,690 New Hampshire, $54,642 Wisconsin, $53,408 Georgia, $53,115 Utah, $52,956 Kentucky, $52,806 Iowa, $51,916 Maine, $51,580 Colorado, $50,660 North Dakota, $50,572 Missouri, $50,533 South Carolina, $50,488 Montana, $49,751 Kansas, $49,571 Indiana, $49,382 Louisiana, $49,079 Tennessee, $48,845 Alabama, $48,523 Arkansas, $47,858 Florida, $47,744 Idaho, $47,025 West Virginia, $44,470 Mississippi, $44,365 Arizona, $44,113 North Carolina, $43,897 South Dakota, $40,790 Oklahoma, $40,201

GETTY IMAGES

STATES WITH HIGHEST TO LOWEST AVER AGE TEACHER SAL ARY:

It’s not just about making the grade...

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A Place to Become… an engineer, a doctor, a police officer.

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up front | finances

3

Money Matters Helpful facts about 529 college savings plans

BY RUSS WILES

S

ection-529 of the Internal Revenue Code is a college savings plan that offers tax breaks and healthy investment options. Since its introduction 22 years ago, use of the plan has leveled, according to a 2017 Sallie Mae report. Many families just don’t have the disposable income to put toward the plans, but 529 misconceptions also may explain part of the slowdown. Here are eight things you might not realize about 529 plans:

you can transfer the account balance to another beneficiary, such as the child’s younger sibling. You also could transfer it to someone unrelated or use it for your own higher-education expenses, should you return to school.

5 You aren’t required to give it away. It’s even possible for an investor to pull out proceeds for personal use. This can be handy if the donor runs into serious personal financial problems or if the intended child doesn’t attend college or wins a full-ride scholarship. However, donors who transfer 529 assets for their own noncollege use would face taxes on earnings and a 10 percent penalty.

6 You don’t have to be a parent to use these accounts. Family members and even friends can

set up and fund 529 accounts. The person who sets up the account retains considerable control over it, including the decision on whom to name as the beneficiary and where to invest.

You don’t need to meet income guidelines.

Unlike individual retirement accounts, no income caps apply. There’s no curtailment of the tax benefits, either, so investment earnings potentially grow free of federal taxes. You can’t deduct contributions to a 529 plan on your federal tax return, but more than 30 states allow full or partial deductions, according to savingforcollege.com. And most programs feature low investment minimums, often as little as $25.

2

4 The money doesn’t have to go to the intended recipient. If your kid decides not to attend college,

You don’t need assets in your child’s name. For

children to receive financial aid, it’s best not to have a lot of assets held in their names. When parents set up 529 plans, the assets are counted less heavily for financial-aid eligibility than if the same assets were held by the child in, say, a custodial account.

44 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

7 You can use another state’s plan. The accounts are named after a section of the Internal Revenue Code and feature earnings that are tax-free on federal returns, yet the programs are run by the various states in partnership with investment companies.

8 There’s no need to fret over investment decisions. Nearly all 529 plans utilize mutual

funds and exchange-traded funds. Funds with stock-market exposure usually are the way to go, especially for young children whose accounts could grow for 15 or 20 years. The accounts also don’t need to be liquidated as soon as the beneficiary reaches adulthood. For example, funds may be applied for graduate school.

GETTY IMAGES

1

You don’t have to use the accounts for tuition.

It’s recommended, but not required, to use proceeds for higher education, as distributions would then come out tax- and penalty-free. Permissible expenses also include housing, books, computers and more. The money can also be used to finance training in technical or vocational schools. And thanks to last year’s tax-reform legislation, proceeds can be taken out, tax-free, and used to pay for up to $10,000 annually in tuition for kindergarten through 12th grade.

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up front | finances

Danica McKellar, aka Winnie Cooper from TV’s The Wonder Years

+

PHOTO CREDIT

Author of a New York Times best-selling math book

2 NAME XXXXXXXXXX 46 MAG BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

up front | finances

Do the Math

Actress Danica McKellar is spreading her passion for numbers

BY GINA ROBERTS-GREY

rowing up on the set of the television series The Wonder Years meant actress Danica McKellar, 43, spent her school years in a nontraditional way. “I’d go back and forth between regular school and having a tutor at work,” she says.

But no matter where she logged her studious moments, one thing never wavered: McKellar’s love of math.

“I was a total STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) kid from the time I was born.

I can’t ever remember a time that I didn’t want

PHOTO CREDIT CATHRYN FARNSWORTH; GETTY IMAGES

G

to not only learn, but be challenged. I think that’s why I love math; it challenges my brain.”

When her time as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years ended in 1993, McKellar, then a college freshman at UCLA, took time off from acting to pursue her passion of calculations. While still an undergraduate, she co-authored a paper with professor Lincoln Chayes and fellow student Brandy Winn that outlined the now-named “Chayes– McKellar–Winn theorem,” proving there can be multiple states of thermal equilibrium. She graduated summa cum laude from

UCLA with a degree in mathematics in 1998.

But her success in college — and specifically math — came as a bit of a surprise to McKellar, who lives in Los Angeles with husband Scott Sveslosky.

“I didn’t think I ‘looked the part’ of someone who could excel in math, even though I loved it and did very well in high school.

I thought college math must be really hard and that I wasn’t a typical math student because I had always thought ‘girls can’t — or shouldn’t — do math’ and that it’s not cool to love or do math,” she says. Her passion for math spurred McKellar to change >

3 47

Do the Math

IMITATING

Life

Since 2015, McKellar has starred in several original television films on the Hallmark channel.

Her most recent will be part of the network’s “Summer Nights” series in August, and she’ll also star in a Christmas movie on the network later this year.

In the 2017 Hallmark movie Campfire Kiss, McKellar portrays a single mom who is a middle-school math teacher. “If I wasn’t an actor, I would for sure be a math teacher and teach middle school,” she says. “That’s such a pivotal time for so many kids and there’s a real chance to help them love learning. Someday, I may still do that and pursue that career.”

She was also a producer on the project and offered significant input in the crafting of several scenes where she helps the daughter of her on-screen romantic interest choose between understanding how math fits into her life and wanting to be one of the popular kids.

“The character considers dumbing herself down and struggles with self-worth, which is something that plays out in so many classrooms across the country,” says McKellar.

48 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

Making Math Fun

After college, McKellar returned to acting, starring in television movies on the Lifetime network and as a recurring character on The West Wing and doing voice-acting work. She also competed in season 18 of Dancing with the Stars, placing sixth.

But her desire to encourage young girls to investigate mathematics didn’t fade. In 2018, she wrote her first book, Math Doesn’t Suck, which walks middle school-age girls through concepts such as fractions, percentages and pre-algebra, using engaging real-world examples. “I use stories and relatable strategies for young people to realize math is fun and is all around us in everyday, real ways.

Math can be cool,” she says. “I also included stories of my own personal struggles with math and ordinary, everyday life, to let girls realize we’re all the same. We all have the same worries, struggles, insecurities, etcetera.”

She’s since written several other titles, including Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape in 2013, New York Times best-selling Goodnight, Numbers in 2017 and her two newest books, Ten Magic Butterflies and Bathtime Mathtime, both targeted at preschool-age kids. “My goal with the new books is to instill the thinking that math is relatable and fun at the earliest possible age. And what’s more fun and nurturing than cuddling with Mom or Dad and reading together?” she says.

“I want to make math less scary and for kids to see math is relevant in their life. It’s not a separate, random tangent. But if we, as adults, don’t help kids make connections in their everyday world, it remains a foreign, scary language they’ll avoid and dread,” she says.

McKellar also spoke at a congressional subcommittee hearing in 2000 about how to draw more women and minorities in STEM. “I want girls to realize they’re not an afterthought when it comes to math. Math is for them ... for everyone,” she explains. “Today’s young women need to realize they don’t have to choose between being smart or the one who takes great selfies. They can absolutely be both!”

McKellar doesn’t just write books. She reads them and shares that activity with her family. McKellar says she’s read to her son, Draco, since he was a baby. “I knew I wanted him to find beauty in numbers, but the first step to that is being able to read. So from day one, I read to him every day,” she says.

McKellar recommends making reading time with young children interactive. “While reading, I’d point to letters and say their names or point to all the words I was reading on a page. I know it’s tempting to rush through a bedtime story because as a parent, there are a million things you still have to do before going to bed,” she says. “But slowing down for a few minutes to read with your child is such a beautiful gift you can give them and yourself.”

Although her son has been reading independently for a few years, McKellar continues to reserve time every night for the duo to read to each other. “Now that he’s 7, we read together and talk about long and short vowels, homonyms or synonyms. To build his comprehension, I’ll ask him about things on the previous page or what happened in the story.”

GETTY IMAGES; CATHRYN FARNSWORTH; PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHERS

Art

the way young people view the topic: “I want to makeover the perception of who ‘smart kids’ and those who love math actually are.”

Mom Danica

+

Son Draco

Creativity Counts

McKellar and her ex-husband, Mike Verta, share duties homeschooling their son. “Homeschooling wasn’t something we set out to do. It just sort of happened after not being able to find a preschool that was the right fit,” shares McKellar. “I do math and science subjects, and his dad does history and music.” Activities such as martial arts, trips to museums and playdates with friends round out his educational and social experiences. And while her son’s lesson plans include traditional subjects, McKellar likes to incorporate as much creativity as possible, too.

She repurposed egg cartons to help reinforce principles of Common Core math taught to U.S. elementary students. “I cut off the ends to create 10 frames we can put things like Legos or other small toys in to do math problems. We use them to calculate 9 + 6 by moving one piece from the frame with 6 and to fill up the frame with 9 to turn it into a 10 frame. It’s a different way to do math than when I was a kid, so doing this can help parents understand how their kids are being taught, too.”

MATH + READING McKellar has written several math-related books and stresses the importance of sharing reading time with children.

She also talks to her son ... a lot. “I try to explain the thinking behind my decisions, even those that seem meaningless or simple like what’s for lunch,” she says. “If we’re out, I’ll say ‘I was thinking of buying this, but now I’m thinking about that instead and here’s why.’ ... I like to try

to narrate my life instead of us co-existing silently in a room or car.” McKellar says she’ll explain why it’s important that she use a turn signal when driving or the benefit of brushing her teeth.

McKellar cherishes having dozens of special moments to recall from her childhood.

And says that as a parent, there’s no way to know what events, whether extravagant like a family vacation or more mundane like a particular dinner, will permanently own real estate in a child’s memory. “I’ll never know which moments will occur to him again and again decades from now, so along with hoping to instill a love of learning, I’m trying to share as much as I can about life, including my mistakes and lessons of humanity to give him a lot to choose from.” l

49

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Changing Lives Through Math™

Story from Boys & Girls Clubs of America

After-school Enrichment Equals Success Boys & Girls Clubs’ programs mold leaders, change lives

BY MARY HELEN BERG

S GETTY IMAGES

tudents may spend all day in school, but their experience after the last bell rings can be as critical as any classroom lesson, research shows. When students attend high-quality after-school programs, they discover new friends and passions, receive academic and emotional support and find a safe haven, according to child advocates. Some even find a second home. >

51

After-school Enrichment

“For many kids, (afterschool) is just a fun place to go, they’re learning and that’s wonderful,” says Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit group that promotes access to quality after-school programs. “But I’ve also seen examples of kids who have literally decided not to drop out of school and decided to have careers because of after-school (programs). I’ve heard from kids who said they’d be dead or in jail but for afterschool.”

Juvenile crime rates jump during the unstructured hours between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., when at least one in five school-age kids are unsupervised, according to research conducted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). After-school programs offer an antidote and help decrease dropout rates, teen pregnancy and drug use among the 10 million U.S. students who use the programs, some studies have found. A 2013-14 U.S. Department of Education report on federally funded after-school programs also found that they help students improve

52 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

GETTY IMAGES; BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

When students attend high-quality after-school programs, they discover new friends and passions, receive academic and emotional support and find a safe haven.

2017-2018 National Youth of the Year finalists, top row left to right, Kaila Lemons, Fern Alcantara and Cassidy Littleton. Bottom row: Keyaunte Jones, Sharnae Pegues and Carlos Polanco, who is the current Youth of the Year.

in math, reading, class participation and overall behavior.

EARLY DAYS One of the oldest and largest after-school programs in the country, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, began in 1860, when three Hartford, Conn., women launched an effort to help local boys develop good character and stay out of trouble.

BGCA’s 4,300 locations now serve 4 million young people in every state - in rural and urban areas, on native lands and military installations. For a nominal fee, members ages 6 to 18 access dozens of programs in sports, liberal arts, academic support, health and wellness, science and technology and more. Teens participate in activities such as community service, career and college preparation and leadership development.

While cultivating good character remains a club cornerstone, today the organization’s mission is more far-reaching.

“We aim to empower and inspire youth to achieve success, developing resilient young people with the skills needed to reach their full potential,” Jim Clark, BGCA president and CEO told USA TODAY in an email. “Boys & Girls Clubs provide a place for kids to become their best selves and to grow into selfsufficient adults.” >

TOMORROW’S LEADERS The 2018-19 National Youth of the Year winner will be announced Sept. 25 at a gala in Washington, D.C. Finalists for 2017-18 include:

Fern Alcantara SOUTHWEST Youth of the Year

Fern Alcantara moved from Mexico to Rogers, Ark., at age 4, and learned English at the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County.

When her parents separated before her freshman year of high school, she returned to the club for support during a confusing and painful time. “I was blaming myself a lot for what happened, and I didn’t really know where I was going to fit in once I got into high school,” says Alcantara, 18.

Club staffers introduced her to Keystone, the BGCA leadership development program for teens. Soon, she was the chapter’s Keystone president and started another Keystone group at her high school. When it was time to apply to college, club mentors took her on campus tours and helped sort out school and financial aid applications. This fall, she’ll attend the University of Arkansas.

“Most of us as teens are not really aware of all the opportunities out there for us,” she says, “But the club does a good job at shining a light on every different path possible.”

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After-school Enrichment

COMMITTED MENTORS Studies show that young people thrive when they have caring mentors, Clark says. At BGCA, staff and volunteers create a supportive environment where kids are encouraged to believe in themselves and dream big.

Club mentors become extended family, role models who provide advice, a shoulder to cry on, and, when necessary, a dose of tough love, says Raytrell Caldwell, teen director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne and Johnston counties, Goldsboro, N.C. Young members learn that the staff and club are always there for them, and if they have a bad day, there’s always a shot at redemption.

“There’s always a tomorrow. … I want them to know there is a tomorrow, there is something to look forward to,” says Caldwell, who was recognized as the 2018 BGCA Youth Development Professional of the year.

Mentors use encouragement, high expectations and challenging opportunities to motivate kids, and the results can be dramatic.

BGCA statistics show that members are more likely to abstain from risky behaviors, get better grades in school, volunteer more and be more optimistic about their futures than their peers.

54 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

Keyaunte Jones MIDWEST Youth of the Year

Cities can be tough places to grow up, says Toledo native, Keyaunte Jones, 19.

But the Boys & Girls Club of Toledo offers “a place where they can be themselves and feel like the weight of the world is lifted off their shoulders.”

The club helped him believe “there’s more that you can achieve and strive for,” says Jones, a biology major at Grambling State University in Louisiana.

Jones, who began attending the club’s summer camp when he was 8 years old, grew up with his mom, but found male role models at the club who helped him hone leadership skills.

Jones became a mentor to younger members, helping with homework, leading sports clinics and serving as Keystone president. He started on junior staff as a locker room attendant and later managed the teen lounge, where he organized activities and served as a confidant.

“My role in the club is very important because I’m very close to the kids that we impact,” Jones says. “This is the place where kids can come and they can get away from the problems they may be having.”

Club mentors and friendships can make all the difference, he says. “Experiences with the club show me that I have people in my corner that care for me,” Jones says. “And that gives me a drive to be successful.”

GETTY IMAGES; BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

“When you’re a military child going into new schools, you’re viewed as temporary, both by your peers and teachers, and it’s really easy for people to dismiss you,” says Kaila Lemons, 19, who had attended nine schools by 12th grade.

The most difficult move for Lemons was to Ogden, Utah, before her sophomore year. Shortly after the family arrived, her father, an Air Force noncommissioned officer, was deployed to South Korea for a year. Lemons felt lost.

Her mom encouraged her to visit the Boys & Girls Club-affiliated youth center at Hill Air Force Base. There, she found supportive staff who understood military life, and she tried new activities that transformed her self-image.

“Growing up, I was always drawn to leadership opportunities but I was told that I wasn’t assertive enough, or I didn’t delegate work well, or I was too quiet,” she says.

Judo classes improved her assertiveness, and in Keystone, her confidence blossomed. By senior year, she was Keystone president.

The club taught her that “having a team is very important,” says Lemons, a University of Utah sophomore. “And that no success can come on your own.”

Kaila Lemons MILITARY Youth of the Year

PEACE OF MIND Like many parents, Stacey Hartman of Douglasville, Ga., needed a safe place for her daughter to go after school. Kai, then 6 years old was chronically shy and cried when her mom first dropped her off at Boys & Girls Club of Douglas County, one of about 25 clubs in the Atlanta area.

But during her years at the club, Kai, now 17, developed determination and resilience, cultivated a talent for writing and found her “leader within,” raising money to start a cheerleading squad for younger members, Hartman says. In 2017, Kai was named a BGCA Youth of the Year and plans to pursue screenwriting at Howard University.

“The club will help your child become who they really are,” Hartman says.

CHANGING LIVES The National Youth of the Year program, BGCA’s highest honor, awards a total of $1 million in scholarships annually to recognize teen club members for leadership, service, academics and other achievements. Five teens who succeed at local, state and regional competitions join a military youth finalist and advance to the national contest.

Carlos Polanco of Clifton, N.J., the 2017-2018 National Youth of the Year, is using his >

55

After-school Enrichment

$145,000 in scholarship funds to attend Dartmouth College. He’s the first in his family to go to college.

Born in the Dominican Republic to a 15-year-old mother, Polanco immigrated to the United States when he was 5 years old and admits he was a troublemaker in school.

Boys & Girls Club mentors inspired him to be NATIONAL accountable Youth to himself of the Year and his 2017-18 community, he says, and he became a civic activist who founded a student organization that pressed for improvements in his school district, among other accomplishments.

“The Boys & Girls Club sees this potential in us,” says Polanco, who aspires to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court someday. “They see the power that we can have, and that’s what makes the Boys & Girls Club truly remarkable and life changing.”

“I’m living proof that it works,” he says. l

Carlos Polanco

— Debbie Williams contributed to this story.

56 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

Cassidy Littleton PACIFIC Youth of the Year

Cassidy Littleton was once afraid to tell her story. When she was 8 years old, her mother sent her to the Boys & Girls Club because both parents were abusing drugs and her home environment wasn’t safe, says Littleton, now 19.

“I had a huge fear that anything I said or did could get me in trouble and would have terrible repercussions at home, so I was really guarded and had a real hard time making friends,” she recalls.

Eventually, Littleton was placed in foster care and lived in five homes between the ages of 11 and 14. Through it all, Magic Valley Boys & Girls Club, in Twin Falls, Idaho, was a reliable anchor.

Club staff assured her that her personal story had the power to inspire and encouraged her to use it to mentor others. In an effort to draw more teens to the club, she took over a small room to create a teen lounge. She became Keystone president and revitalized that group, doubling its membership. She also helped organize and run the local BGCA SMART Girls conference, promoting girls’ health and self-esteem. Slowly, she gained the confidence she needed to succeed in school and apply to college.

“There’s such a power in not being ashamed of your past and knowing that your past does not define you,” says Littleton, a sophomore at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.

“Rather, it gives you a perspective and a lens to empower others and to relate to other people.”

GETTY IMAGES; BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

Back2School Campaign Growing up in rural Georgia, Sharnae Pegues, now 19, endured her share of hardships. When she was 7 years old, her parents divorced and her family was evicted from their home.

She experienced low self-esteem and was looking for a place to belong.

She joined the Coffee County Boys & Girls Club in 2016, and immediately felt at home. “I honestly felt like more of a member of a family,” she says. “I felt like I really belonged and fit in and could be myself. At the club I was taught that I could be an inspiration to others despite all the pain I had felt in the past.”

She started the Pearls of Elegance program at the club as a way to mentor other young women and help them feel valued. The program talks girls through real-world challenges at home and school and gives them advice on how to solve issues they may face. “I felt really inspired by my mom and other family members who encouraged me and helped build my self-esteem, so I wanted to create a program that helped other girls know their worth,” she explains.

She says she named the program because a pearl starts out as a grain of sand, and “I wanted girls to know that no matter how rough they start out or bad their pasts might be, with time they will see the benefits of their hard work.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of America kicks off the 2018 school year with its annual Back2School campaign, partnering with retail sponsors to collect school supplies and donations that will provide a strong start for millions of young people returning to school this fall. Since 2016, more than 40 corporate partners have joined the drive, raising $12 million, says Sara Leutzinger, BGCA national communications director.

Sharnae Pegues SOUTHEAST Youth of the Year

2018 Back2School partners include: • Bridgestone • Buffalo Wild Wings • Build-A-Bear Workshop • Chuck E. Cheese’s • Comcast NBCUniversal • Family Dollar Stores • Finish Line Youth Foundation • Fiskars • Gold Toe • Lowe’s • Old Navy • Toyota Stuff the Bus As part of the Back2School campaign, three Toyota Sienna vans will travel throughout the country this summer, making stops at local companies to collect school supplies. The vans will then be awarded in September to select Boys & Girls Clubs.

In 2017, the vans collectively traveled more than 10,000 miles stopping at 10 locations from coast to coast. Visit bgca.org for the 2018 schedule.

– Mary Helen Berg

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After-school Enrichment

Famous Faces

After-school Opportunities

Boys & Girls Club alumni can be found all over the globe – 16 million strong. Today, about one in 19 Americans once belonged to a club, according to the organization’s website. Among these alumni are a who’s who of Academy Award winners, Olympic champions, prominent politicians and other luminaries who reached for the stars and achieved their dreams. Here are just a few standouts:

Whether your student wants to master math skills, his hook shot or a resume, there’s likely a local after-school option to fit his needs. Some focus on a single interest, such as academics or sports, but many provide comprehensive activities like general tutoring and homework assistance, music lessons, theater programs, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) enrichment and guidance on professional and social skills.

After-school programs across the country include:

• Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles • Bernard Shaw, journalist • Bill Walton, former professional basketball player • Brooke Bennett, Olympic gold medalist • Cuba Gooding Jr., actor • Earl Gay, U.S. Navy rear admiral • Evander Holyfield, retired boxer • George Mitchell, former U.S. senator • Harry Lee Anstead, former Florida Supreme Court chief justice

• Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympic gold medalist

ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE

Kerry Washington, actress

• JB Smoove (Jerry Brooks), comedian, writer

Denzel Washington, actor

Misty Copeland, professional ballet dancer

• Sharon Sayles Belton, former mayor of Minneapolis • Smokey Robinson, musician • Wesley Clark, retired U.S. Army general

Camp Fire The 108-year-old organization operates programs for youth ages 5 to 17, including homework help and classes in STEM, creative arts, digital literacy, health and wellness, leadership and more.

Girls Inc. Empowers girls ages 6 to 18 with programming focused on life skills, health, fitness and academics.

Shaquille O’Neal, retired professional basketball player

4-H Club Uses hands-on student-led projects to support agriculturally based learning in STEM, health, nutrition, fitness, leadership and citizenship.

Save the Children Focuses on literacy, nutrition and fitness, emergency preparedness and family participation for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

YMCA Many locations offer fitness and sports programs, academic support and arts and enrichment activities.

Sugar Ray Leonard, retired boxer

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COMPREHENSIVE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS After-School All-Stars Serves middle school students on Title 1 school campuses (those with high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families) with sports, service learning and high school, college and career prep programs. Founded by former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

• Kelly Kulick, professional bowler • Michael Jordan, retired professional basketball player

Mathnasium Individualized learning plans support all types and levels of math students, elementary through high school.

Sylvan Learning Personalized tutoring assists in reading, writing, math, homework and Advanced Placement courses.

STEM enrichment classes also are offered.

• John Singleton, filmmaker • Judith Zaffirini, Texas state senator

Kumon Specially designed worksheets and certified instructors help boost reading and math skills for youth ages 3 and up.

– Mary Helen Berg

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• Anthony Anderson, actor

Jennifer Lopez, singer, actor, dancer

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today’s youth are embracing their role as change agents 2 NAME XXXXXXXXXX 60 MAG BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

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S TUDENT

BY RINA RAPUANO

ALTHOUGH THEIR CREATIVITY and innovation are sometimes discouraged and dismissed, teens have, throughout generations, contributed more to society than we give them credit for. They’ve fought for civil rights, feminism and equality. And in the wake of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., it seems teenagers of this generation also are determined to use their voices for change.

“I think teens have always been really socially active and conscious,” says Seventeen Digital Director Kristin Koch, who interacts with young people daily through the magazine’s social media platforms.

“Teens are really aware of what’s going on in the news and what’s affecting their lives.

Even if they can’t vote yet, they care very deeply about the issues.”

Social media certainly has helped the

Parkland students and other advocates gain traction. “A lot of it has to do with the access to social media,” confirms Koch. “They have all these tools right at their fingertips. …

Whether they are writing a book or starting a club or organization, (social media helps them) connect to each other and further their passions and really do incredible things.”

Hannah Alper, a Toronto-based teen activist who wrote Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change has been speaking about youth activism for years and says she’s seen a significant shift since the Parkland shooting.

“I feel like one of the big differences I’ve seen is adults are ready and willing to listen to young people,” the 15-year-old says. “I’ve just seen so many more adults who want to listen to our voices and hear our opinions.”

These four inspirational young people are among many working to change society for the better: >

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William Winslow

F O U N D E R | The Food Drive Kids

IT’S NOT OFTEN that a 12-year-old can boast a longtime career in volunteerism, but this Raleigh, N.C., middle-schooler has been at it since first grade. That’s when he learned about Backpack Buddies, a program that sends provisions home from school with children deemed “food disadvantaged.”

“I was sitting in my class, and my guidance counselor told us about the kids in need at our school, and I really wanted to do something about it because I couldn’t stand the thought of kids going hungry,” he says.

The then-7-year-old decided to take action, asking his local Food

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Lion for permission to stand in front of the store, collecting donations and talking to shoppers about his mission. This small gesture turned into an annual event, with a team of 170 or so volunteers at about a dozen grocery store locations.

He says his parents are supportive and helpful, but that he and his 8-year-old brother do most of the organizing, such as contacting stores, securing trucks and recruiting volunteers.

Beyond the yearly food drive, Winslow has started a program that teaches students about food and nutrition.

“I also build school gardens to help with sustainable hunger relief so the kids can go home and have fresh fruits and vegetables in their backpacks,” he says. “Over the past six years, we’ve collected 43,200 pounds of food, raised $55,500 and built three school gardens.”

The young activist, who won a 2018 Prudential Spirit of Community award and wants to be a hydraulic engineer or astronaut when he grows up, hopes others will be inspired by his website (thefooddrivekids.org) to organize their own food drives.

He knows most kids would rather play Xbox or hang out with friends, but he urges his peers to imagine having an empty pantry at home.

“We all need to do something to end childhood hunger,” he says. “If we all just wait for somebody else to do it, it’ll never get done. We all need to help with this cause because it’s a big one.”

PROVIDED BY THE WINSLOW FAMILY; GETTY IMAGES

The Food Drive Kids organization, founded

by William Winslow, far right, collects donations, plants gardens and educates community members about local efforts to end childhood hunger.

Visit thefooddrivekids. org to learn more.

Michelle Qin

TOGETHER TO EMPOWER; GETTY IMAGES

F O U N D E R | Together to Empower THIS CALIFORNIA GIRL’S path to assisting women around the globe started three years ago when a friend showed her images of impoverished girls in Guatemala.

Qin, now 17, decided to start a club and organize bake sales to raise the funds these girls needed to pay for school — but over time, she came to understand that reversing gender inequality would take more than selling brownies.

“When I started in eighth grade, that was the only thing I knew how to do,” she says. “I realized bake sales couldn’t solve this huge problem.”

As she learned more about the issue — and as she entered high school and noticed how few girls were in her science- and technology-focused classes — Qin founded an international nonprofit called Together to Empower (togethertoempower.org), which has since helped 550 Guatemalan girls pay for their education with money raised through bake sales. In addition, the group has helped Ugandan women acquire microfinance skills by selling their jewelry to pay for business school classes and runs a two-week coding summer camp for girls at Qin’s high school. The Canadian branch of Together to Empower also held a banquet to raise donations to assist with safe health practices for women in Mali.

The organization’s latest project is the art book What Is a Woman?

Qin and her team asked artists around the world to answer the question and submit their creations. “We’ve received hundreds of works — abstract paintings, sculptures, photographs — from elementary school (children) through internationally renowned artists,” she says. “All the funds raised from the publication will go

Michelle Qin (in black coat) founded Together to Empower to raise funds to support education and entreprenurial projects.

toward our initiatives and helping us empower girls and women.”

She’s not sure what other issues the nonprofit’s three branches and roughly 100 volunteers will tackle next, “but I do want to focus on health, sexual exploitation and human trafficking in the coming school year,” the Harvard hopeful says. “We’re not sure how yet, but I hope something in that area.”

Born to Chinese parents who brought her to the U.S. when she was an infant, Qin says she initially had doubts that someone so young could make an impact on such a complex issue.

She recommends that parents encourage their children to find something they’re truly passionate about before jumping in. “I was able to forget the doubt and become confident in what I was doing because I was enjoying it so much,” she says. >

“ I realized bake sales couldn’t solve this huge problem.”

— Michelle Qin

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Parkland school shooting survivor Aalayah Eastmond is lending her voice to the fight to end gun violence in the U.S.

Aalayah Eastmond ACTIVIST | Gun control

AALAYAH EASTMOND LOVED spending time playing violin, dancing, singing and listening to Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper — before a catastrophic event transformed her life. As a survivor of the Parkland shooting, where a gunman killed 17 people, Eastmond brought tears to many eyes when she first spoke out on Megyn Kelly Today, just two weeks after the tragedy, recounting how she survived.

It took her some time to find her voice after the incident, but she now travels the country speaking as a representative of the Brady Campaign (bradycampaign.org), a nonprofit that seeks to end gun

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violence in America. For the 17-year-old Coral Springs, Fla., resident, gun control is about as personal as it can get.

“Whatever they want me to do, I do,” she says of the campaign. Whether it’s them wanting me to do a photo shoot or travel, go to rallies with them — they involve me in everything.

They were the reason I was able to go to D.C. and speak at March for Our Lives.”

Standing onstage in front of an estimated crowd of 800,000 could be considered a crash course in public speaking and activism. “It was very scary and overwhelming,” she says. “It happened so fast that I didn’t really know how to feel.”

Afterward, when the calls started rolling in from news media, she decided to use her platform to give people the hope and motivation to seek change. When she speaks at events, she does nothing to prepare, instead preferring to “just speak from the heart.” Her message? “That it’s not only about mass shootings,” she says. “It’s about all shootings, homicides, shootings in urban communities. It’s not just one thing; it’s all things that have to do with gun violence.”

The proactive teen is back in school with dreams of eventually going to Columbia Law School. And while she’s unsure which direction she wants her law career to go, she knows she can’t let up with her activism until the work is done.

“It’s not what I planned to do, but I’ll do it as long as it takes for change to happen,” she says.

ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES; NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

An estimated 800,000 people attended the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C.

Aija Mayrock

GETTY IMAGES (2); AIJA MAYROCK

A U T H O R | The Survival Guide to Bullying: Written by a Teen

NOW A CONFIDENT 22-year-old NYU student studying social justice and dramatic writing, it’s tough to believe that Aija Mayrock endured years of physical, verbal and online bullying that started at age 14. “I actually never told my parents what was going on,” she says. “It wasn’t until a viral cyberattack in ninth grade that I broke down.”

She decided to take action to help others by writing a real-world survival guide. “I saw a news story about a young boy who committed suicide because he was bullied,” she says. “I was so angry that there were kids around the world who couldn’t find the strength to go on. I remember that night so vividly, and I remember sitting down and putting pen to paper and beginning the book.”

The teen worked on the book for about two years, a process that involved interviewing and working with psychologists and other health experts to create something that would “not just help students but also parents and educators.”

Mayrock says a problem with bullying is that the same emotional walls kids build to protect themselves from insults also serve to cut them off from family and friends. “I never felt like anyone was listening,” she says. “I wanted the book to serve as a guide, as a flashlight, as a tool for any young person to ask for help and find the right tools to get through it successfully.”

The Survival Guide to Bullying is now sold in 16 countries, and Mayrock regularly hears from those who have benefited from her transparency.

“I’ve had the most incredible response,” she says. “I receive

“ What knocked me down is not as important as what made me stand up.”

— Aija Mayrock

To learn more about Mayrock’s book and activism, visit aijamayrock.com. messages from (people) all over the world that I’ve changed their lives, saved their lives. Bullying is a universal problem. It affects every single kid, whether they are being bullied or just witnessing it happen.”

Mayrock now acts and writes screenplays, which “dovetail into my activism,” she says, “to tell stories that give a voice to the voiceless.” l

READING, WRITING & ACTIVISM Some schools — such as Capital City Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. — believe social justice and activism are important parts of students’ studies.

Karen Dresden, founder and head of school, says children should understand that the skills they learn can help make a difference.

“It’s not, ‘When you grow up, you can do something meaningful with this,’” she says. “Even young children can make a difference. It’s a big part of our model.”

That translates into first-graders teaching the local community about the decimation of bees and 11th-graders convening a food justice summit. This year, the school’s art department curated a learning module titled “Children’s Voices in Protest” for second-, third- and fourth-graders.

The unit culminated with the students traveling to the National Mall in June to perform slam poetry, sing songs, tell stories and participate in other forms of performance art, followed by a short march. “What we aim to do is provide students information and give them space to make their own decisions and voice their own opinions and also learn that people won’t have the same opinion,” Dresden says.

— Rina Rapuano

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C U LT I VAT I N G

Helping kids feel secure and empowered in today’s stressful world

BY L AURA PETRECCA

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O

n Dec. 14, 2012, when Tricia Kenney heard about the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., she thought strategically about how to break the news to her daughters, then 8 and 11. The attack happened about an hour’s drive from Kenney’s community in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. Her oldest daughter

had an event at school the next morning, and Kenney decided to tell her afterward so she wouldn’t be afraid to attend.

Yet, when Kenney began the complex conversation, she was in for a surprise: “She already knew ... she heard about it from a friend.”

Her daughters didn’t have social media accounts, so Kenney presumed she was “the keeper >

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of the information they would receive,” she says. “That was a bit of a wake-up call.”

Kenney now communicates faster and more frequently on sensitive topics such as shootings and school lockdowns. She reassures her daughters of their safety and reminds them to be aware of their surroundings. “If you don’t make it scary, if you make it smart, it becomes empowering instead of fearful,” she notes. “My overriding philosophy is you can’t live life in fear.”

Like millions across the nation, Kenney is parenting in a time when news of mass shootings, bombings, natural disasters and other tragic events can quickly reach kids via TV, text messages, word of mouth and social media.

Chromebook- and iPad-toting children “have access to the news instantaneously,” says Rockville, Md.-based psychologist Mary Alvord. “Everybody is more aware of these bad things that happen because we have social media.”

And, as Kenney learned, even kids without social media accounts can hear scary-sounding reports. Yet in a world of unexpected events and rapid-pace communications, parents and kids can still feel a sense of power and control, says Alvord, co-author of the book Resilience Builder Program for Children and Adolescents: Enhancing Social Competence and Self-Regulation.

Here’s how to get there:

FOSTER EVERYDAY FRANK CONVERSATION

COMMUNICATE WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES To believe that kids won’t hear about tragic events “is wishful thinking,” says Robin Gurwitch, a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine who specializes in supporting children after trauma.

Any school-age child can be exposed to shocking news while on the school bus, via teachers

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Centennial, Colo.-based psychologist Natalie Vona asks her four kids open-ended questions, such as how their day went, whether they saw any mean-spirited behavior and whether anything worried them. “It’s part of the normal conversation where you just talk about how you felt that day,” she says.

But when discussing their fears, she probes for specifics. “You

have to ask what they are afraid of because your fears aren’t their fears,” explains Vona. “We never really know unless we ask them what they are worried about.”

She makes each conversation age-appropriate for her children, who range from 7 to 14. If a talk with her oldest child gets too mature for the other kids to hear, Vona will redirect and follow-up later in a one-on-one conversation. “Her questions as a 14-year-old going into high school are going to be so different than my 7-year-old,” Vona says.

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We don̕t want to give kids the feeling that we know all the answers - we don̕t.”

— MARY ALVORD, Psychologist

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talking in the halls and through the media, she says. Parents should ask their children what they know about the situation, then tailor the conversation from there. If a parent doesn’t bring it up, a child may be afraid to talk about it, and can potentially obtain misinformation.

Gurwitch recommends that parents say, “This is a really hard topic, but there is nothing that you and I can’t talk about.” In turn, “that openness can lead to other conversations about things that affect a child, such as peer pressure, bullying, sex or even devastation about not being invited to someone’s party,” she says.

After the discussion, “circle back around — it’s not a one and done,” she says. “Tell your kids, ‘I’m going to check back in with you and if you have any questions between our check-in, let me know.’”

BE HONEST It’s also important to have an honest conversation at “a developmentally appropriate >

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level,” Alvord says. Parents shouldn’t lie to protect kids or promise that nothing bad will ever happen to them, she explains. Instead they should talk through how it’s possible to be resilient when faced with adversity.

Tell them they “can’t control everything but ... they can control certain aspects of what is happening,” Alvord says.

Remind them of safety plans, and let them know that if Plan A doesn’t work, there’s a Plan B. If a parent is stumped by a child’s questions, it’s fine to say so. “We don’t want to give kids the feeling that we know all the answers — we don’t,” she notes. Parents can tell a child that he or she asked “a really good question” and say they will do some research and follow up.

PROMOTE A SENSE OF SECURITY Reassure children that everybody is concerned about their safety and security, says Gurwitch. “Let kids know that school facilities, first responders and others are doing all they can to keep them safe.”

Rebecca Sullivan, a parent in Boston, says she tells her three kids that she and others — such as the school secretary — are watching out for them: “I tell them they are safe, and I honestly believe it.”

Sree Mukherjee Vaid, who lives in Old Greenwich, Conn., says her two kids appear to have inherited her stance of “it’s nothing until it’s really something.” “I don’t walk around with

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a sense of impending doom ever,” she says. And in turn, “I sense that my kids are not very fearful.”

A parent’s actions have tremendous sway, says Jonathan Comer, director of the Mental Health Interventions and Technology Program at Florida International University. It’s vitally important for adults to monitor their stress levels, and ratchet it down when it rises. “Kids take cues from the adults in their lives,” he says. “Anxious kids often have anxious parents.”

SHARE COPING SKILLS Tell kids about the calming techniques you use, such as deep breathing or muscle relaxation, says Alvord. “Problem-solve out loud,” she says.

Vona lets her kids know when she’s sad, yet also describes her steps to feel better, such as calling a friend or exercising. “I

WATCH FOR WARNING SIGNS

acknowledge my feelings and then say, ‘there are things you do to help yourself,’ ” she says.

And if you cry in front of a child, show how you calm down, says Gurwitch. If a child sees an upset parent disappear into a bedroom, only to miraculously reappear looking composed, it can be confusing, she says.

EXPLAIN PROBABILITIES Kids need to understand that many of the events on the news are uncommon occurrences, says Comer. “The news media tends to portray a world that is more dangerous than the actual viewer inhabits,” he says. “The media doesn’t report that millions of families had a nice dinner tonight and told each other that they love each other and went to bed happy.

They report the outliers.”

Comer also suggests parents turn off the TV during times of tragic events because the images “can be unnecessarily traumatic,” he says.

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ENCOURAGE ACTION A little more than a month after the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., Vaid and her 13-year-old daughter, Richa, joined the March for Our Lives protests in New York. “You have to stand up for what you believe in,” she says.

Liz Gumbinner, a parent of two daughters in Brooklyn, N.Y., also encourages her 10- and 12-yearold to be proactive. As a family, they’ve researched and donated to GoFundMe causes, such as a campaign that benefited victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida. The girls have also walked in protest marches and joined bake sales that contribute to relief organizations. “It’s so important psychologically for kids to feel empowered,” Gumbinner says. And now that they are active, “they’re the ones who often tell me about things that are going on in the school or the community.” l

SCHOOL SAFETY ASSIGNMENT Learn the safety plan at your child’s school, advises Gregory A. Thomas, a public safety expert and former president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. From 1997 to 2003, he worked with New York City schools to develop safety and security plans, and says most parents got a failing grade for safety class attendance. Often, just a handful would show up at his sessions.

Yet, those who learn about fire and lockdown drills, as well as other safety procedures, gain “a foundation of preparedness,” he says. That can foster peace of mind for parents and children.

It can also reduce chaos if an emergency occurs, he says. For instance, panicked parents who race to a school can cause gridlock and inadvertently block first-responder vehicles from getting through.

Thomas’ other counsel: Trust the school to do due diligence with safety procedures. “You won’t have a teacher who went to school for early childhood education putting together a safety plan by themselves. There will be some outside help from the fire department, police department and emergency management,” he says.

“Some anxiety is normal,” notes psychologist Mary Alvord. That feeling can propel a child to study for a test or not get too close to a cliff’s edge.

Yet when a child begins to worry intensely and frequently, or if there is a major habit change — such as sleeping issues, skipping class, not turning in homework and withdrawing from friends and family — it may be time to seek professional support.

These websites can provide guidance: • American Academy of Pediatrics: aap.org • Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology: sccap53.org • The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: nctsn.org Alvord also recommends these books for ageappropriate tips on handling your child’s anxiety: • Ages 6 to 12: What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner • Ages 9 to 13: Outsmarting Worry: An Older Kid’s Guide to Managing Anxiety by Dawn Huebner • Ages 8 to 14: Anxiety-Free Kids: An Interactive Guide for Parents and Children by Bonnie Zucker • Teens: Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens: A Workbook to Break the Nine Thought Habits That Are Holding You Back by Mary Alvord and Anne McGrath

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ELEMENTARY 74

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elementary

Family Fitness Ditch screen time for some fun, healthy bonding

BY TAYLOR SEELY

I

t’s not easy competing with screens for your child’s attention.

Smartphones, tablets, game consoles and giant TVs seem to be everywhere they look.

According to Influence Central, a techadvocacy startup that uses data to connect social influencers with brands, 64 percent of kids today have internet access via their own smartphone or tablet, up from 42 percent in 2012. The group also reports that 50 percent of youth have social media accounts by the time they’re 12.

There’s no denying handheld devices are a godsend for entertaining your kids during road trips, in waiting rooms and while running errands, but they don’t exactly encourage healthy habits or

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stimulate family bonding.

So the next time you plan family togetherness, maybe edge away from the typical movie night and even skip the board games. Opt instead for a fitness day (or night) full of fun activities. If not for the health benefits, then for the sake of giving your eyes a break from LED screens and stretching the limbs a bit.

The Associated Press’ Kelli Kennedy interviewed three celebrity moms who do just that. Brooke Burke-Charvet, former Dancing with the Stars co-host, Hilaria Baldwin, author of The Living Clearly Method: 5 Principles for a Fit Body, Healthy Mind & Joyful Life and Erika Boom, owner of fitness-apparel brand Fit Mama, share their tips for encouraging family exercise.

tip 1 LEAD THE WAY

“Leading by example has been the most valuable lesson for family fitness,” BurkeCharvet says. She enjoys working out in bootyburning classes, hot yoga and spin sessions.

For Boom, it can be as simple as bringing the kids to watch your fitness class one day.

Then at home, ask them if they want to try one of the moves.

tip 2 ENROLL IN A CLASS

It may not necessarily be the booty-burning session, but maybe it’s a kickboxing or spin class. Ask your kids what they’d like to try.

tip 3 JOIN YOUR KIDS AT THE PLAYGROUND

It’s difficult to carve out and devote time specifically for exercise, Baldwin says. So next time your kids are crawling through a jungle gym or swinging on monkey bars, join them. It’s probably more of a workout than you think.

tip 4 USE YOUR LOCAL RESOURCES

Burke-Charvet and her children regularly run at Pepperdine University’s track in Malibu, Calif., near their home. Do you have a local baseball field, tennis court or swimming pool that your family could use? You won’t know if you don’t check.

tip 5 OPT FOR QUICK EXERCISES AT HOME

Jumping on the trampoline or lifting your smaller children with your feet to play “airplane” are a few simple at-home exercises.

You also can create relay races around your house or make a habit of climbing the stairs with your kids five to 10 times each morning or night.

tip 6 GET SOME FRESH AIR

It can be an expensive investment, but purchasing bikes for the family is a great way to get out and enjoy nature. Some areas have daily bikerental options.

tip 7

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ASK ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS

Sometimes enrolling in a gym as a family offers a better rate than buying individual memberships.

Community centers also typically offer more affordable options compared with mainstream gyms. And some gyms have kid-friendly trainers who teach family-exercise sessions.

Adapted from an Associated Press article.

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elementary

Reading Matters Inspiring the next generation of bookworms

BY AMY SINATRA AYRES

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ports, homework, video games, social media. Today’s kids have jam-packed schedules and an abundance of technological distractions — so when they do have downtime, picking up a book is seldom top of mind.

“With all these other attractive options, it can be hard to find time to quietly get lost in a book,” says Irene Fountas. She and Gay Su Pinnell are literacy researchers

and founders of Fountas & Pinnell Literacy, which provides resources to teachers and school administrators.

“Reading is a window on the world, and it is a way to gain insight into human experiences. We see books as nourishment. They give people opportunities to expand their understanding of the world, to develop their language and vocabulary, to see themselves and others in new ways,” Fountas says. >

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TIPS TO INSPIRE RELUCTANT READERS Literacy experts Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell offer this advice for encouraging children to read for pleasure:

Reading is a window on the world, and it is a way to gain insight into human experiences. ”

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Create a family reading time. “It makes a big difference if the parents participate as well as the children … having their own quiet reading time as well shows the children that they feel it’s an important and valuable activity,” Pinnell says.

Keep reading aloud. “That is a very special time, and it’s a time when parents can revisit treasured favorites or discover new books together,” Fountas says. “It also provides an opportunity for parents and children to talk about books together on a deeper level.”

Start early. “When you are young, you don’t realize how books contribute to your knowledge, your empathy, your humanity. And if you value books and time reading, it will contribute to a rich, fulfilling life,” Pinnell says. “A reader will always find time to read; that’s something children will always carry with them.”

— Amy Sinatra Ayres

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about dogs; there’s one who wants to read about history, science. We’re just so lucky that so many amazing books are being published right now and there’s got to be something out there for everybody.”

Telgemeier, who started out creating Many parents graphic novel versions of the popular fondly recall the books Scholastic series The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann that captured their Martin, says she often hears from parents imaginations when they of kids who got hooked on reading because were children and the of her work (including middle schoolers) characters who still hold and had never finished a book on their own. a place in their hearts — “I hear about kids who struggle with long and they want their kids sentences, long paragraphs — just a page to have that experience, full of words somehow intimidates them, too. One way to help but the combination of words and pictures them get there is finding (in a graphic novel) really opens things up,” the right books, Pinnell she says. “Then the next thing the reader says. wants is more.”

Stephanie Smirnov, the head of global corporate communications for Scholastic, has struggled with getting her teenager — who was an avid reader in elementary school — to read for pleasure now that he’s in high school. In recent — IRENE FOUNTAS, literary researcher years, she says, he’s instead been consumed by social Raina Telgemeier, media, gaming and dating. author and illustrator But Telgemeier’s books struck a chord of best-selling graphic with him when Smirnov brought them novels including Sisters home from work. Her advice for parents and Smile, agrees. “I in similar situations? “If I were to distill think matching kids it down, it’s to remember that it’s about with subject matter that choice, and the books that the kids pick out they’re interested in is themselves are also the books that they’re key,” she says. As a child, most likely to finish,” she says. she was “only interested “The years are short to really build a in reading books about reading life, because as students move real kids. I was that kind up into the middle and high school years, of reader. … There’s they’re busier and busier,” Pinnell says. another kind of reader “Treasure the time you have now to become out there who wants to a reader, to build a reading life, and to fall read about sports; there’s in love with particular kinds of books or one who wants to read authors or topics that bring you joy.” l

Let them choose. “Let children choose books they want to read, as long as they are age-appropriate.

Teachers will use text levels to select books for specific classroom instruction. But neither parents nor students need to use levels to choose books. Instead they should always choose books they are interested in and books that engage them,” Fountas says.

Good Reads Looking for books to capture your young reader’s attention?

Here are a few page-turners: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

El Deafo

by Cece Bell

The Bad Guys series

by Aaron Blabey

In this graphic novel memoir, the author chronicles her hearing loss at a young age.

Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha and Mr. Shark take on missions for good.

Dog Man series

by Dav Pilkey

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship

by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes

This series about a heroic hound with a feline sidekick comes from the creator of Captain Underpants.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHERS

HIGH SCHOOL

This heartening story of the love and teamwork between a girl and her service dog is based on a real-life partnership.

The Parker Inheritance

by Varian Johnson

Rebound

by Kwame Alexander

Mystery is intertwined with historical fiction in this story of one town’s struggle with the past.

This prequel to the awardwinning book The Crossover focuses on Chuck Bell, the basketball star dad of Josh and Jordan Bell.

Crenshaw

by Katherine Applegate

Amulet series

by Kazu Kibuishi

An imaginary cat helps a boy whose family has fallen on hard times. From the author of the Newbery Medal-winning book The One and Only Ivan.

A young girl has fantastical adventures in an underground world after finding a magical amulet in her greatgrandfather’s house.

The Raven Cycle series

by Maggie Stiefvater

The Hazel Wood

by Melissa Albert

Blue Sargent, whose mom is a clairvoyant, gets caught up in the strange world of the Raven Boys.

The mother of 17-year-old Alice is stolen away by a figure claiming to be from the cruel supernatural world where her mother’s fairy tales were set.

The Traitor’s Game

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Hate U Give

by Angie Thomas

The emperor’s daughter is blackmailed into stealing a powerful artifact, but she’s not the most obedient captive.

Starr Carter, 16, is drawn to activism after witnessing the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend by a police officer.

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Raise a Planner Build your child’s organizational and time management skills

BY K ATHERINE REYNOLDS LEWIS

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manda Morin sighed at the text from her 11-year-old son, Jacob, asking her to bring his tripod to school so he could fulfill his duties as class photographer.

She’d just dropped off his forgotten sneakers for gym class and agreed to pick him up at the end of the day, unexpectedly. This new request showed — yet again — that he needed to get organized.

If you just unearthed last year’s unsigned permission slips from the bottom of your child’s backpack, Jacob’s forgetfulness may seem all too familiar. Indeed, our children need support planning and organizing. These skills, in addition to being able to pay attention and track details, are known as executive functions, and are crucial to success in school and life, even more than raw intelligence.

Here’s how to develop them:

HS T R E NGT S R I E H T they do P L AY T O l gifts —

d’s specia nal organizer your chil te fessio ia c re App gths and vor, a pro Paige Tre Notice their stren those s y sa t, is .“ ex e of gton, D.C o sfer som in Washin if they could tran ample, a child wh se x o s e u th r o o ri se F u u c s. t be suggest ns migh r o ti o v ool a h g re li T sc b f cial o ack o skills,” ns her so eeping tr la k p r y fo rl s e ie g ea teg g tional stra ents. organiza r art-lovin itm m m o c raged he work to the y il u o m c fa n e d n n a an Gibso mit some of her lanning a b Tanya Eg p ylan, to su ylan had to start nd D r, aterials a m daughte w. D o g n sh ti c rt e a t of ll ’s o se ir c d , fa e in n ty m coun to the e deadli in th r e re t h u t fo o o e ,” with This “g month b project. own work The d a g g in in k n a g desi says. d bre ahead an de, Egan Gibson ies. planning ra nd activit a g a rk f o o lw re o u o h ss sc re p the er into arried ov routine c

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MAKE IT FUN Experts reco mmend ta or love of g ames to m pping into your child ake organiz ’s interests manageme atio nt how long it fun. Play the “estimat n and time io takes the fa mily to put n” game to guess belonging s and get o on shoes, gather ut the doo to beat the r. Then, ge ir pre t them to tr Kids also lo vious record. y charge of a ve to be the boss. In vite them to family meal ta out favorite or grocery store run. P ke fo icking Even presc ods and using a list builds plan hoolers ca nin nh involves th em in the m elp chop and cook, w g skills. hich any steps n on the tab eeded to g le. As they et dinner grow olde family vaca r, ask them tion and p to plan a ractice bud Create a vi geting. sual depic tion of the with your ch family’s dai ildren. Let ly routine them color step. Mayb a picture o e they’d p f each refer to take a freshly m p ade bed o r their organ hotos of clean teeth print the p , ized shoes. hotos and create a ch You can art to hang on the wal l.

CONT ROL THE CLUT TER Prevention is the best cure for belongings. Regularly declutter the home and create a “zero growth” policy. “Parents often relinquish power over what comes in or stays in the house. I say: Take it back!” says Trevor. “We, as the parents, establish what a reasonable amount of stuff is that a child can pick up in 15 minutes. That’s what lives in their room. When a new gift, book, toy, game, craft, goody comes in, something goes out in the donate bag, eBay, trash.”

Take a picture of what clean looks like, whether it’s the common living spaces or a child’s room, and post it on the wall. Limit the amount of books, clothes or toys to the volume that will fit in the storage containers you own, says Dana White, author of Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff. Everyone has their own clutter threshold, the point at which they can manage all their belongings.

But avoid a power struggle over your child’s space.

ON HA BI T CR EA TE AN AN TI CI PA TI

planning and organization.

From an early age, model ceries or stack of mail, gro When you bring in a bag of rything away. Talk through immediately sort and put eve long it takes to pack how the daily schedule, including up and to drive places. organize papers, and Show your children how you your systems, suggests ing rov imp on as ask for their ide educational research of nt Manju Banerjee, vice preside e in Putney, Vt., and leg Col ark dm Lan at and innovation resource website ning lear an education expert with the understood.org. t items they’ll need Ask children to anticipate wha mple, if the schedule exa For m. the tell ’t tomorrow. Don w to pack their kno uld lists soccer practice, they sho tle. bot er wat a and rds cleats, shin gua next day’s lunch and bag Make it routine to pack the scrambling to find items in each evening, so you’re not . ises the morning, Banerjee adv

T E AC H

TIME M A NA

GEM EN Have yo T minutes u ever told your , but, at child to th be ready still play e appoin ing in te show yo , completely un d time, found th 10 ung chil p e re p a re d d re ? Studie m how lon s g 10 min n need practic e unders utes — o Experts tand r tw su analog c ggest using a vis o hours — feels ing lock tha u . a l ti m e t shows The red the time r, such as an triangle remainin shrinks a closer. g s the de adline d in red.

Older ch ra ws il dren ma phones y enjoy or iPads s e tt in g remind .E best for ers your chil xperiment to fin d what w on dren, an favorite d let the orks method m s. Kids w choose and fonts ho love th eir may pre graphic they can fe design customiz r planning in a bullet jo e, for ex urnal ample.

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E M B R AC E M IS T A K E S

Above all, the experts agree is a process. Le th tting your child at raising a planner ren learn from mistakes is m ore effective — their own and enjoyable berating or na — than gging. When something do whether a lost es go wrong, favorite sweats hi offer to strate gize with them rt or missing homework, .A time, or how they can regrou sk what they’d do next p. mishaps; they ’re prime oppo Don’t rescue kids from rtunities for th After that forg em to learn. etful day in m iddle school, came home fu Jacob Morin rious that his parents refuse for and bring d to search the tripod. Bu t it was the begi important chan nning of an ge in the Mor in household, parents stoppe when the d rescuing thei r kids from thei oversights. “N r errors and ow, as a soph omore in high realizing that school, he’s if he forgot so m ething, it’s his to figure out ho responsibility w to manage without it,” A says. “He hard manda Morin ly ever forget s things anymor to have a men e and seems tal checklist he ’s working thro gets out the do ugh before he or.”

A HELPING HAND Apps such as any.do, Evernote and Remember the Milk are great for helping kids organize and manage their time.

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middle school

Good Game How parents can forge character from competition

BY MAT T ALDERTON

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Two-thirds of parents say they’re concerned that youth sports have become too focused on winning instead of having fun.

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hen did sports stop being fun?”

If your child plays sports, you’ve probably asked yourself that very question. Perhaps after your 5-year-old’s soccer game, when you saw a father berating his son for his lack of hustle. Maybe during your teenage daughter’s high school basketball game, when you realized the mom next to you was literally foaming at the mouth over an unpunished foul. Or possibly at your 12-year-old’s football game, when you witnessed a parental mob surround the losing team’s coach with invisible pitchforks.

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SETTING THE BAR Parents who want to raise wellmannered athletes should consider how they behave when watching sports on TV with their children. Instead of cursing at quarterbacks and roaring at referees, try praising stellar sportsmanship when you see it. Here are three recent examples that set the behavioral bar for children and parents alike:

MORGAN JAMES PUBLISHING; GETTY IMAGES

HELPFUL RESOURCE Changing the Game offers practical tips for raising happy, welladjusted athletes.

For Dr. Michael Austin, a philosophy professor at Eastern Kentucky University, the question surfaced in 2013, when recurrent violence — tripping, shoving, even punching — prompted the Kentucky State High School Athletic Association to recommend that schools cease organizing postgame handshake lines.

Although most schools continued the practice, the situation made Austin wonder what youth sports had become. “I thought, ‘This is just ridiculous; we’ve all got to calm down and think about what the point of all this is,’” says Austin, a high school soccer coach and father to three daughters, ages 18, 21 and 22, who each played youth sports.

“I’d seen so many players, parents and coaches doing disrespectful things, and it just really bothered me,” Austin says.

He isn’t alone.

According to a 2014 survey by ESPNW and

the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, two-thirds of parents say they’re concerned that youth sports have become too focused on winning instead of having fun.

But it’s not just fun that’s at stake. It’s also fundamentals. “Sport is a great microcosm of life and a great place to develop children’s character,” says John O’Sullivan, author of Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes and Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids.

Indeed, all children who play sports can learn things like teamwork, respect, personal responsibility and discipline. Only a few, however — just 2 percent, according to the NCAA — will earn an athletic scholarship to compete in college.

“It’s not that performance and skill isn’t important — it is — but it’s only one piece of a really important puzzle,” says Dr. Jennifer Waldron, a professor of kinesiology and physical education at the University of Northern Iowa.

During this year’s March Madness, freshman Jordan Poole led the University of Michigan men’s basketball team to a miraculous victory when he sunk a deep three-point shot with only 3.6 seconds left in the game. In the midst of celebrating, Poole’s teammate, Mo Wagner, took a moment to console a member of the opposing team, the University of Houston’s Corey Davis Jr.

Britain’s Kyle Edmund was injured and fell to the ground in pain during a professional tennis match in January. His opponent, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, immediately leapt over the net to offer his assistance.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, crosscountry skier German Madrazo of Mexico finished last in the 15-kilometer men’s freestyle event. Skiers from Colombia, Tonga, Morocco and Portugal embraced Madrazo and hoisted him onto their shoulders before gold medalist Dario Cologna of Switzerland offered him a personal congratulations and handshake — nearly 30 minutes after finishing himself.

— Matt Alderton

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Leading by Example Experts offer this advice for parents who value youth sports as a way to develop their child’s athletic skills as well as their character:

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BE A SUPPORTIVE SPECTATOR

TRACK PROGRESS, NOT POINTS

STAY IN YOUR LANE

Parents should model good character from the sidelines, according to Jim Thompson, founder and CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance, a nonprofit whose mission is to create a character-building youth sports culture.

“Be a fan,” advises Thompson, who says parents should spend games cheering instead of jeering. “Parents should be ‘noticers.’ Notice the good things your kids are doing and comment on them. Notice the good things his or her teammates are doing.

Notice the good things the coach is doing. And for extra credit, notice the good things the other team is doing. A parent said to me once that his goal at the end of every game was for nobody to know which team his daughter was on because he’d cheered for good plays by both teams. I thought that was really beautiful.”

Note the difference between cheering and steering, too.

“Screaming instructions from the sideline doesn’t help; it just confuses them,” author John O’Sullivan says.

“Also, it takes away their chance to learn. We don’t go to their math test and yell at them to carry the one, and we shouldn’t do that in sports, either.”

In postgame debriefs with children, emphasize how the game was played, not whether it was won. “As parents, we are oftentimes the interpreters of the experiences our children have. When ‘Did you win?’ is the first question we ask after the game, we interpret that experience for the child in a way that makes them think winning is the most important thing,” says professor Jennifer Waldron, who recommends withholding opinions about the game and instead asking open-ended questions like: What did you enjoy most about the game? What did your team do really well? How did you contribute to your team?

What might you have done differently? “Now they start to understand that what matters is the amount of effort they put forth and whether they’re improving,” she says.

Leave coaching to coaches, Thompson advises. “There’s two groups of people whose job is to win games: athletes and coaches,” he says. “As a parent, you have a much more important job: helping your child become a better person.”

How you behave toward coaches sets an important example. For instance, Thompson says you should avoid disparaging coaches in front of children so as not to undermine their ability to learn from them.

Professor Michael Austin, meanwhile, recommends waiting 24 hours to confront coaches when you’re upset with them. “Otherwise,” he says, “things just get heated.”

Finally, parents must trust children to learn as much as they trust coaches to teach. “Don’t be a helicopter who swoops in every time there’s a difficult situation,” O’Sullivan advises. “If your child isn’t getting as much playing time as they want, don’t yell at the coach.

Ask them, ‘What have you done to earn enough playing time?’ ... Parents naturally want to protect their kids from failure. But adversity is part of life. Sports can help them learn how to deal with it.”

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— Matt Alderton

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middle school

Dressed for Success Are school uniforms a help or hindrance?

BY DEBBIE SWANSON

86 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

Advocates assert uniforms eliminate the spotlight cast on students who wear designer clothing or those who can’t afford to. Opponents argue they violate a student’s right to self-expression.

codes predominantly target girls and transgender students, have reignited the uniform conversation. Some districts prohibit leggings or yoga pants or require bras, for example.

Is enforcing standard attire the key to a safer and more focused school experience? Or does it add a burdensome administrative layer and squelch a student’s right to self-expression?

Here’s a look at both sides of the issue.

PROS: SAFER SCHOOLS, FEWER CONFLICTS School safety is an important and topical issue,

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ost parents agree that getting their children dressed for school and out the door in the morning can be a challenge, and there can be more at stake than just the daily race against the clock.

What a student wears to school has been a contested topic for decades. The issue received national attention in the ’90s after President Bill Clinton aired his view in his 1996 State of the Union address: “I challenge all our schools to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship. And if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.”

Public school uniform requirements, which remain decided by local districts, have climbed from 12 percent nationwide in the 1999-2000 school year to nearly 22 percent in the 2015–2016 school year, according to a 2017 report by the Institute of Education Sciences’ National Center for Education Statistics.

Uniform-free districts also often turn to dress codes to enforce appropriate attire.

But recent controversies, fueled by claims that dress

middle school

and proponents say uniforms when kids become more enhance security by fostering label-conscious. It saved a sense of community, me a headache because spotlighting intruders, (uniforms are) what was eliminating the presence of required of them.” gangs and reducing violence Other advocates agree or theft ignited that a uniform by designer eliminates labels. After the spotlight Long Beach, typically cast Calif., adopted on students a uniform who wear of U.S. public policy in designer schools had 1994, officials clothing or uniform policies reported a 36 those who can’t during the 2015percent drop in afford to.

2016 school year. crime among “It helps — Institute of Education elementary and relieve stress Sciences’ National middle school and eliminate Center for students during social Education Statistics its first year. standard,” Long adds Drew Beach parent Kalinski, a Elizabeth Borsting Fullerton, Calif., parent who appreciated that both wore uniforms as a child but her children wore school now lives in a uniform-free uniforms. “I loved it,” she district. “It is much harder for says. “Especially in middle kids to put others in different and high school — a time social classes and bully them

22%

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CONS: VIOLATES STUDENTS’ RIGHTS, CREATES FINANCIAL HARDSHIP Those who oppose uniforms feel the practice violates a student’s right to selfexpression and a parent’s right to raise their child as they see fit.

In response to concerns in K-12 public school in Rhode Island, the American Civil Liberties Union, which has defended many uniform-averse families, asserted that “forcing students to wear uniforms infringes on their right to free speech and expression and violates the standards set out in the previously mentioned Gardner case.” The Gardner v. Cumberland School Committee legal case was a pivotal 1972 ruling limiting district-enforced uniforms to situations where “it presents a clear and present danger to the student’s health and safety, causes an interference with school work or creates a classroom or school disorder.”

There’s also a financial component to requiring that students wear a specific uniform. Janet Ferone, president of Bostonbased Ferone Educational Consulting and a former school administrator, has seen families — particularly those in lowerincome households — struggle with the issue. “It can be a hardship for families who weren’t planning, or able, to buy backto-school clothes,” she says, adding that access to laundry facilities further hinders compliance. “Also, students who were homeless, or living in foster or group homes, were not able to get the uniforms easily.”

Teachers and administrators also maintain that time spent enforcing the uniform requirement infringes on the school day. In Canyon Country, Calif., this was a contributing factor in the school district’s repeal of its uniform policy in 2002.

“Sending a child home to change clothes interferes with their education. Assigning detention or other penalties … unfairly punishes them for their family’s inability, or unwillingness, to comply,” Ferone says, adding that “students should be in class, not my office for uniform violations.” l

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because of it if they are all wearing the same thing.”

As for concerns over stifled selfexpression, advocates say there is ample time outside of school for children to exercise their fashion tastes.

What makes a curious reader?

You do.

Read to your child today and inspire a lifelong love of reading.

w w w. r e a d . g o v

high school

MONEY 101

Teach teens life skills before they leave home

BY MARY HELEN BERG

E

ven the smartest kids sometimes lack street smarts. Stories of college freshmen can reveal jaw-dropping degrees of cluelessness. Like the teen who called from campus on the first day of the semester to ask: “Mom, where’s my classroom?”

Today’s high schoolers may ace the SAT, but many can’t do their own laundry, understand public transportation or fry an egg. Some are so busy racking up Advanced Placement classes and impressive extracurriculars, they fail to learn the basic skills they’ll need to smoothly transition from home to college, a gap year or a job.

A TROUBLING TREND “It’s certainly not every student, but every year we hear stories of basic things that we would consider common sense that students simply didn’t know and they simply never

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learned,” says Erika Johnson, program director in the Office of New Student Programs at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The most common gaps in knowledge have to do with basic safety matters and how to take care of personal needs, Johnson says. One student started a dorm fire by cooking with aluminum in the microwave; another lost his wallet — and had written his PIN numbers on each card. Then, there’s the Californian who attended school in New York and dashed outside without any shoes — and without checking the weather report.

Who knew it could be 20 degrees in January?

Parents who assume their 18-year-old has casually absorbed life skills are often surprised to learn how much their teen missed — like the fact that a postage stamp belongs in the top right corner of an envelope. >

Know how to: • Track expenses and spending • Understand banks versus credit unions • Compare debit versus credit cards • Contrast credit card offers • Measure interest and how it accrues • Deposit and withdraw money • Write a check • Pay bills • Compare prices • File taxes • Interpret credit scores — Mary Helen Berg

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Ready to Launch

Most teens don’t learn about finance in high school and have no idea how to manage money, says Kristin Bhaumik, who teaches “The Financially Savvy Student” course at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and is also associate director for financial wellness, advising and eligibility for financial aid.

“A lot of my students say that they’ve never had these conversations with their parents,” and adults are often equally confused by finances, she says. Bhaumik recommends that students understand these money basics before leaving home:

high school

THE ESSENTIALS

Some of their expert tips include: Encourage your student to make a schedule that includes time for class, exercise, sleep, studying and fun.

Assure your teens that they have the competence to deal with new challenges,

TEACH THEM DAILY Students’ busy schedules are partly to blame, but parenting techniques definitely play a role, says Johnson, who also runs a parent orientation program at the university.

“We’re making sure (our kids) get to school on time and get their homework done, but on the flip side, we’re not giving them the chance to prove themselves and really learn those little skills that give them confidence that they know how to take care of themselves,” Johnson says.

“Adulting” classes have cropped up to fill the void, and some colleges offer online primers that outline which important skills teens should master before they leave home, with advice on behavioral topics such as assertiveness and conflict resolution and basic howtos on separating laundry and clipping grocery coupons.

Ideally, parents should gradually teach these everyday skills and not wait until the summer after high school to introduce them, advises Laura Kastner,

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whether it’s a difficult class or a nightmare roommate.

Agree on a reasonable plan to keep in touch — and then try not to cyberstalk them.

University of Michigan program director Erika Johnson and clinical psychologist Laura Kastner recommend students learn these life skills before they leave home:

Make these three safety points a priority:

Know how to: • Shop for groceries • Cook a simple meal • Do laundry • Take public transit • Clean a bathroom • Share their space • Ask for help

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Get counseling if you feel too stressed.

Sexual consent can’t be given if one of the parties is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

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You love them unconditionally and can face any problem they might have. If they need help, call home.

clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, and co-author of The Launching Years: Strategies for Parenting from Senior Year to College Life.

GIVING THEM THE SKILLS Parents can show their kids how to do laundry as early as age 10 and then consistently introduce new skills like cooking and making a budget.

By junior year of high school, “don’t do anything for them,” Kastner says. “Have them do it for themselves and you can be in the sidecar and assist if needed.”

In other words, let your teens make mistakes. It can be tough to watch, but necessary for them to build autonomy.

“By letting them do things by themselves, the parent is saying ‘I trust you; I know you can handle this. I know you’re smart enough and good enough and competent enough. I don’t need to do this for you,’” Johnson says. “I think that’s a gift that we sometimes forget to give our children.” l

DAILY SKILLS

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Know how to: • Administer basic first aid • Follow treatments for common illnesses, headaches and the flu • Manage and reorder prescriptions • Schedule doctors appointments and talk to health professionals • Understand how medical insurance works • Recognize sexual consent • Make responsible decisions regarding drug and alcohol use SAFETY

Know how to: • Cancel a lost or stolen credit or bank card • Keep laptops, purses, bikes or other valuables safe • Call 911 in an emergency • Employ basic self-defense • Use a fire extinguisher EMPLOYMENT

Know how to: • Construct a résumé • Send effective or appropriate text messages • Write a professional email • Handwrite a thank-you note • Address, stamp and mail an envelope — Mary Helen Berg

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The Launching Years: Strategies for Parenting from Senior Year to College Life guides parents through their child’s tricky transition from high school to leaving the nest. Coauthors Laura Kastner and Jennifer Wyatt use real-life scenarios to illustrate practical approaches parents can use to stay connected while letting go.

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high school

A Different Path Four alternatives to traditional four-year college

BY TEDDY NYKIEL

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or many high school graduates, college has become the default next step in their education, whether or not they have a career in mind. But with rising tuition costs, ballooning student debt and plenty of good jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree, it’s worth exploring other options.

Here are four alternatives to attending a traditional four-year institution that may be a better fit for your graduate and cost less than a state university or liberal arts college:

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Also known as: Junior or two-year college Typical length: One or two years Credentials: Associate degree or certificate

Apprenticeships are paid career-training programs where students learn on the job in addition to some classroom instruction.

Apprentices work full time with wages starting at around $15 per hour and increasing as they become more skilled. Fields offering apprenticeships include construction trades, manufacturing, health care, finance, telecommunications and transportation.

There are currently about 400,000 registered apprentices in the U.S., according to the U.S. Labor Department — a small number compared with 94 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

Community colleges are local, typically public, schools with two main paths for students: transfer preparation and career training. The transfer route is for students who eventually want to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher at another college or university; classes in this track are academic in nature.

The career training route is for those who want to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. These classes typically teach specific skills that you can apply on the job through certification programs in fields such as welding, massage therapy, automotive repair and personal fitness training.

Whichever route your child may choose, he should have a goal and plan in mind. And if he wants to transfer, he should communicate with his advisers regularly to ensure that academic credits will transfer as needed.

APPRENTICESHIP

Also known as: Job-based learning Typical length: One to six years Credentials: Nationally recognized industry certification

the more than 20 million students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities in fall 2017, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There’s bipartisan

and private-sector support for expanding apprenticeships, but because the number of apprenticeships is limited, they can be competitive and there may be a waitlist.

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ONLINE COLLEGE

Also known as: Distance learning, massive open online courses Typical length: Varies by the credential Credentials: Certificate, or associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree

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Online college can give the flexibility to learn on an individual schedule and pace, as long as the student is self-disciplined enough to keep up with the work. It can be a good option for full-time workers and students with disabilities.

Some schools offer only online classes, while many brick-and-mortar colleges host online courses in addition to in-person ones. Depending on the school’s offerings, and your location and preference, students can take all of their classes online, or take some online and attend others on campus. Either way, research the school carefully to make sure it’s affordable, properly accredited and has a track record of preparing students for success after graduation.

Trade schools are typically private schools — many are for-profit — that prepare students to enter a particular career directly after completing training.

Many community colleges have similar, and likely more affordable, programs.

Trade schools are available in fields including welding, auto mechanics, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Take extra care to research trade schools before your student enrolls. For-profit schools tend to be more expensive, requiring students to take on more debt compared with public or

TRADE SCHOOL

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Also known as: Technical, career or vocational school Typical length: One to two years or less Credentials: Certificate

nonprofit schools. Look for a school that’s accredited for federal financial aid programs, and use the Department of Education’s

College Scorecard to compare schools’ typical costs, graduation rates and median salary of graduates.

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Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

It’s a beautiful year in the neighborhood for fans of adored TV icon

BY PATRICK RYAN

O

n Feb. 19, beloved children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood celebrated its 50th anniversary on PBS, which the public broadcaster marked with the star-studded retrospective Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like. Affable TV host Fred Rogers is the subject of several upcoming projects,

96 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2018

including a documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, and the biopic You Are My Friend, starring Tom Hanks.

The original show, which first aired Feb. 19, 1968, continues to run on many PBS stations throughout the country and is available for streaming on Amazon.

In each of the nearly 900 episodes, Mister Rogers creates a safe place for children to learn about themselves and the world around them, speaking directly to the audience with his unique one-to-one affirmations.

Celebrity guest stars have included Tony Bennett, Julia Child, Margaret Hamilton, Michael Keaton, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Rita Moreno and Bill Nye. The show officially ended in August 2001.

Less than two years later, Rogers died of stomach cancer at age 74, leaving a legacy of kindness, love and acceptance. Asked how he’d feel about the recent surge of attention, his widow, Joanne Rogers, says, “He would be the same humble person as he always was. I think he would be happily amazed.”

PBS; THE FRED ROGERS COMPANY; GETTY IMAGES

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