(ARA) – American kids are learning from their parents this back to school season about value, smart investing and getting the most for every dollar spent. Developing wise spending habits is a good thing for kids, but does it mean they have to sacrifice their sense of style as they head back to school?

Not necessarily, says children’s fashion expert, Jenny Cooper, head of J.Crew’s children’s line, called crewcuts, for ages 2 to 12.  Children of top celebrities from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., have been spotted wearing crewcuts. “It is possible to get great style, quality and durability at family-friendly prices,” Cooper says. “Parents should look at their children’s back-to-school wardrobe as an affordable investment, and follow a few basic rules when shopping.”

• Look for sophisticated, classic styles rather than trendy clothes that may have less enduring appeal. Because something is classic doesn’t mean it lacks character and personality. Timeless style enables a wardrobe item to be usable and relevant for future seasons, whereas trendy togs are often “flash in the pan” items that may be cheaper and less durable. “Your son may outgrow his crewcuts by this time next year, but you’ll still be able to use the clothes next year to put his little brother in stylish, great-looking hand-me-downs,” Cooper says.
• Look for quality.  Choose garments made of durable, quality materials that have great details. It’s common for children to fall in love with certain articles of clothing that they wear over and over again, as any mom who’s washed the same shirt five times in a week knows. “It’s worth it to spend a little more on a few items that will look great no matter how much use and washing they get,” Cooper says.  “We are obsessed with quality.”
• Don’t forget fit. How often have you bought your child a pair of pants or a shirt in a particular brand, loved the fit, and went back and bought several more pairs in different styles and sizes of the same brand, only to find out that not all styles fit the same across the brand. “Fit should be consistent,” Cooper says, “so that items will look great and consistent across all ages. We want our jeans to look as amazing on a 10- or 12-year-old as they do on a 3- or 5-year-old.”
• Build a wardrobe by mixing and matching key items.  Just as you purchase a piece for your own wardrobe keeping in mind what it will pair well with, do the same for children’s clothes. A good pair of jeans, smart-looking skirt and classic shirt or blouse can be worn for a variety of occasions, from dress-up to casual. “Try to keep a core of neutral-colored items – pants for boys, skirts for girls – that will go with whatever fun, playful thing your children want to wear on top,” Cooper suggests. “If you establish a good base, the rest of the choices they make will always look great.”
• Remember, your children’s clothes need to fit their personality, not just their body. “Our aim is to create styles that kids would create themselves if they were little fashion designers,” Cooper says. “Styles should be fun, comfortable and unique.”
• Accessorize for your kids, just as you do for your own wardrobe. For boys, a pop of color in the socks instantly gives a little guy a twist of personality. For girls, look for jewelry that looks like the real thing, rather than gumball jewelry, and don’t forget hair accessories to really crown a look.
• Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of good shoes, whether they are dress shoes, casual shoes or sneakers. You child’s shoes should be durable enough to survive the season of tumble and fun, and good-looking so that your child wants to wear them again and again.

For more ideas on how to keep kids stylish, visit www.jcrew..com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(StatePoint)  If your kids are like most, their backpacks, desks and lockers quickly become a disorganized mess of homework papers, permission slips and notebooks.  Teaching children how to make sense of it all is critical to helping them become more successful in school.

Organizing their schoolwork helps kids focus on their studies

“Organizing schoolwork and materials allows kids to organize their minds so they are better able to focus on their studies,” says Jodie Watson, Founder and President of Supreme Organization and the Organizing Expert from TLC’s “Real Simple. Real Life.”

Here are some simple and helpful tips from Watson to get children organized for school success:

• Get your children involved in creating systems to get organized.  The more involved they are in the process, the more they will stick with it. Create a system that encompasses everything from the right school supplies to designated study areas at home to daily routines for completing homework and getting organized.
• Create a binder to hold your child’s class work as he or she goes through the year, or individual binders for each class. Use durable or heavy duty binders so they will withstand wear and tear throughout the school year, which will save money in the long run. Watson recommends buying school supplies from a manufacturer such as Avery Dennison, which participates in the “Box Tops for Education” program helping schools raise cash for classroom equipment, library books, computers and other supplies.
• Color-code and label prominently. Use different color binders for each subject so your children can easily find the one they need in a hurry. Label the front cover and spine with your child’s name, year and semester. Label the inside with their name and a contact number in case the binder gets lost or left at school.
• Create a desktop file system in your child’s study area at home. Color-code file folders for each subject to match the color-coding system they have in their binder(s). Make file folder labels on the computer or using a permanent marker so each folder can be easily identified.
• Have your child update and organize their assignments, backpack and binder each evening as part of their homework routine to be ready for the following day. Getting them to stick to routines is important. A great way to get your child enthusiastic about their organizational binder is to create a fully personalized, custom binder such as those from Avery Signature Binders (www.averysignaturebinders.com). This will help them continue using it to keep work organized throughout the year.
• Place a dry erase monthly calendar in your child’s room or study area at home. Use dry erase markers to note days/times of classes, and when assignments or papers are due. Use different color markers for each class to easily differentiate them and to give a good overview of your child’s schedule and deadlines.
• Insert a copy of your child’s class schedule into a sheet protector and place at the front of his or her binder. Be sure to include class name, teacher, room number, location, and days/times of classes.

“Getting organized helps children to be less stressed. When they know where their work is and are able to find what they need when they need it, they don’t waste time and energy looking for lost or misplaced papers and have more time to get their assignments done well and in a timely fashion,” emphasizes Watson.

(StatePoint)  Packing nutritious school lunches that kids will eat can be tricky. You want to make sure that all those healthy foods you carefully selected are not traded away for junk food or tossed into the trash.

With childhood obesity a growing problem, many parents are determined to find healthful but tempting school lunches for their kids.

“Just because a bagged lunch is nutritious doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fun. Include a variety of foods your kids enjoy and get creative by packing colorful vegetables and fiber-rich fruits. And since kids love snacks, don’t fight it, pick healthy snacks and avoid junky chips and empty calories,” says Josh Schroeter, co-founder of Sahale Snacks, a producer of healthy, all-natural snack foods.

• Make Favorites Even Better: Choose whole grain bread over white bread when making your child’s favorite sandwich. Substitute a whole wheat tortilla or pita pocket and kids won’t notice a difference. Choose lean lunch meats such as turkey or chicken and low fat cheeses. Use mustard instead of mayonnaise. Home-made bean or yogurt dip with vegetable sticks can be a tasty source of protein and fiber.
• Go Nuts with Nutrient-Rich Snacks: Nuts and seeds make terrific protein- and fiber- rich snacks in lunchboxes. They contain heart-healthy fats and satisfy the craving for crunchy foods. Choose nut mixes with low sodium and no trans-fat or heavily processed sweeteners — and go beyond boring trail mixes. Liven things up with all-natural, kid-friendly glazed nut blends, such as Sahale Snack’s “Almond PB&J” blend of nuts, strawberries, raspberries and ground vanilla beans. “Parenting Magazine” recently recommended this treat as a calcium-rich energy booster. These snacks are available in grocery and health food stores, and won’t get traded away in the lunchroom.
• Make Calories Count: Avoid packing refined carbohydrates and high fats together in one lunch. Substitution is key. If the main dish runs high in carbs or fats, add a side of veggies or fruit instead of chips or cheesy puffs. This cuts down on obesity-inducing foods that also might leave your child sluggish for the rest of the day. Substitute water for soda or juice, avoiding empty calories and sugar.
• Play Dress-Up: Just because it’s made of vegetables, doesn’t have to mean boring. Dress-up a salad with nuts and dried fruit to make it more fun by adding crunch and sweetness. Mix in nuts, dried cranberries or apple slices. Or, opt for a pre-packaged nut blend that combines tree nuts with dried fruit like pomegranate or berries. Just be sure it’s not loaded with sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Select one with organic evaporated cane juice or some natural honey instead.
• Let Kids Choose: Have children help with the shopping and preparation. Take a visit to the local farmer’s market where the kids can taste test and choose their favorite seasonal produce. Cut fruits and veggies into fun shapes, add happy faces with raisins and nuts, and make items bite size for small hands and mouths.

For more healthful food ideas and recipes, visit www.sahalesnacks.com.

“Getting kids to eat right can be challenging, but you can make it easier by only buying things you want them to eat and instilling healthy eating habits at an early age,” stresses Schroeter.