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Back to School: Ensuring an A+ start to the school year

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Back to school…three words that represent great joy to parents who are ready to get back to routine and bring great anguish and “pain” to kids who aren’t quite ready to give up their summer freedom. In order to ensure a smooth transition from the fun and less structured summer into a new school year, I think it is important as parents to take the time to talk to our children about their worries and concerns going into the fall semester. The question could be as simple as, “Is there anything you are worried about for this school year?” I know in my office when I ask this question, I have had many a parent be surprised by the answer their child might give. When we know what our children are worried or afraid of, it makes us, as parents, better equipped to give them the guidance they need to maneuver through the unchartered waters of a new school experience happily and successfully.

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Back to School: Ensuring an A+ start to the school year

I encourage parents to teach children to view school as their job. What better time to start teaching children about work ethic than from the very beginning of school. As parents, we should set expectations for our children in regards to their “job” performance, and if these expectations are not met, then they should be held accountable. Now, the expectations, as well as the consequences, will, of course, vary by age, but even the youngest child should understand that they should strive to be the best they can at their job. Even my son who is starting Pre-K 3, knows that mommy and daddy expect him to listen to his teacher, follow directions, and be a good friend to his classmates. If he doesn’t achieve these things, he doesn’t get to read books at night (his favorite pre-bedtime activity). These expectations are established from the get-go so that there is no confusion about the “job description.”

I also encourage all parents, but especially the parents of elementary aged children, to establish a good rapport with their child’s teacher. After all, the reality is that in many cases their teacher will spend more time with them during the weekday than we will. It is crucial to make sure there are channels of communication that exist between parents and teachers, and these should not be one-way avenues. Parents should feel comfortable bringing up concerns to teachers just as teachers should be respected when they bring concerns back to parents. A partnership between teacher and parent is vital to helping children achieve success in the classroom which often translates to increased self-confidence in kids.

So as everyone heads back to school, establish those expectations, let them know their “job description,” and then make sure your voice as a parent is a positive one with excitement, support, and encouragement for the upcoming school year. As kids make the trek up the ladder to reach those expectations you have set, make sure they know you are their biggest cheerleader and will always be behind them to catch them when they stumble, to give extra little pushes along the way, and to celebrate all of their achievements all from a place of unconditional love.

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Moms where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting and living in Baton Rouge.

Ask the experts Baton Rouge Moms

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share BRM’s experiences with food,  fitness, health and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice.  When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

 

Louisiana Tax Free Weekend Shopping

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Baton Rouge moms, it’s almost time for the 2017 Louisiana Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. This year, the “Annual Louisiana Sales Tax Holidays Act” provides an exemption from state sales tax on the first $2,500 of the purchase price of most individual items of tangible personal property for nonbusiness use on the first consecutive Friday and Saturday of August.

Here’s what you need to know before you go shopping, according to the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

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2017 Louisiana Back to School Sales Tax Holiday Weekend

The 2017 holiday begins on Friday, August 4, 2017, at 12:01 a.m. and ends at midnight on Saturday, August 5, 2017.

Purchases Eligible for Exemption

The exemption applies statewide to all consumer purchases of tangible personal property, other than vehicles subject to license and title and meals furnished for consumption on the premises where purchased, including to-go orders, provided that the property is not for use in a business, trade, or profession.

What items are NOT eligible for exemption?

In addition to the specific exclusions in the Act for vehicles and meals, the state sales tax holiday does not apply to:

  • Purchases of taxable services (such as hotel occupancy)
  • Amusement, recreational, and athletic admissions
  • Repairs to tangible personal property
  • Laundry, cleaning, pressing, and dyeing services
  • Vehicle parking
  • The furnishing of cold storage space
  • Printing services
  • Telecommunication services
  • Leases or rentals of tangible personal property

 

Purchases Eligible for Exemption

The sales tax holiday applies to all consumer purchases of firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies. Firearms eligible for the sales tax exemption include shotguns, rifles, pistols, revolvers, or other handguns, which may be legally sold or purchased in Louisiana. Ammunition intended to be fired from a gun or firearm is eligible for the sales tax exemption. Hunting supplies are eligible for the sales tax exemption only if used for and designed for hunting. Eligible hunting supplies include:

  • Animal feed that is manufactured and marketed as being for consumption primarily by game, which can be legally hunted; this does not include food for animals kept as pets;
  • Apparel such as safety gear, camouflage clothing, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, face masks and thermal underwear manufactured and marketed as being primarily for wear or use while hunting;
  • Archery items used for hunting such as bows, crossbows, arrows, quivers and shafts;
  • Bags to carry game or hunting gear;
  • Belts that are manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting;
  • Binoculars only if purchased to be used for hunting;
  • Blinds;
  • Chairs to be used for hunting; this excludes purchases by an individual of chairs or other furniture for household, business or other recreational use;
  • Decoys;
  • Firearm, archery, and other accessories designed for hunting;
  • Float tubes only if purchased to be used for hunting;
  • Hearing protection gear and enhancements that hearing aids queens ny recommended;
  • Holsters;
  • Hunting shoes or boots designed and used for hunting;
  • Knives that are manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting; this excludes the purchase of knives by an individual to be used for household, business or other recreational use;
  • Miscellaneous gear that is manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting; this includes other hunting-related gear or supplies not previously listed. This excludes the purchase of toy guns and vessels or off road vehicles utilized as children’s toys;
  • Off-road vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles designed and intended primarily for hunting; the exemption does not apply to golf carts, go-carts, dirt bikes, mini-bikes, motorcycles, tractors, motor vehicles which may be legally driven on the streets and highways of Louisiana, or heavy equipment such as cranes, forklifts, backhoes and bulldozers;
  • Optical equipment such as rifle scopes and impact resistant glasses for shooting;
  • Range finders;
  • Slings;
  • Tools that are manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting;
  • Trail cameras with ShootingAuthority
  • Tree stands;
  • Decoys; and
  • Vessels such as airboats and pirogues designed and intended for hunting.

Purchases That Are Not Eligible

Consumer purchases do not include the purchase of animals, such as dogs. Hunting supplies do not include the purchase of toy guns and vessels or off road vehicles utilized as children’s toys. Firearms other than those listed are not eligible for the exemption. Purchases made by a business or for business purposes are not eligible for the sales tax exemption.

Learn more here: Louisiana Tax Free Weekend