Tips from ASG     To help parents in their back to school preparations, the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) has provided some tips for a stress-free start back to school.

“ASG’s Member parents tell us that getting children and the family into gear for the new school year can be
really challenging,” Mr O’Connell said.  “Families that allow more time to cover all the different aspects involved in back to school preparations, from getting supplies, budgeting, getting the family organised, putting some systems in place, and encouraging excitement and a positive attitude in children are making it easier for themselves now and into the rest of the school year.

“It’s all about planning. But that doesn’t mean that families can’t make significant preparations in the days
leading up to the new school year and in its first few weeks, if they start preparing now.

“According to the Australian Government, more than 80,000 children move interstate with their families each
year during their schooling requiring relocation to a new school. Helping the children settle in throws up a
whole new set of challenges, as does the transitions from preschool to primary, and primary to secondary
school.

ASG reveals important tips and information for school parents, including:

School fit-out costs (2009):

• Parents buying primary school uniforms can expect to pay between $289 for government school uniforms
  and up $1012 for private school uniforms
• Secondary school uniforms will set parents back from $643 for a government school and up to $1258 at a
  primary school
• Textbooks can cost parents an average of $61 at a primary government school to an average high of
  $127at a systemic (eg Catholic) school whereas parents of secondary school students need to expect to
  pay an average of $179 for textbooks at a government secondary school up to a high of $607 at a private
  secondary school

Tips to save:

• Put your shop smart effort into the most expensive items where you’ll save more
• Buy only ‘must haves’ and put off the ‘lust haves’
• Buy fewer items
• Buy it new cheaper at discount stores or online
• Buy second-hand or swap (let go of your perceptions)
• Buy advertised specials from different stores
• Buy in bulk – join with other parents in your neighbourhood

Traps to avoid for getting your family organised:

• Sleeping in until the children wake up
• Falling into the morning panic to get ready
• Lack of routine
• Turning on the TV in the morning
• Searching for missing items
• Overscheduling out-of-school activities
• Not co-ordinating timetables and activities

Link: http://www.asg.com.au/

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