Start the School Year on the Right Foot!
Dusty Rhodes • August 19, 2019
Parents, we feel your pain. We know that school is back in session, and that means it's about to get real! Luckily, Positive Discipline put together a list of great tips and tricks to help manage the new schedules and needs that this season brings.
- Stay positive. Make sure to project great energy and excitement to your kids. Try to avoid projecting anxiety about being unprepared with supplies, food, schedule. Kids can pick up on a lot of our stress, and if you start to show signs of being overwhelmed, they'll start to take that on as well.
- Set a routine/schedule at home. Along with your stress about being unprepared, children can feel just as frantic and disorganized as adults when it comes to schedules and what's expected of them. The simplest start to that routine is family dinners. Try to set the expectation that no matter what, we will absolutely be sitting down to eat together, and then build from there what bath time and homework time will be.
- Don't put too much pressure on grades too early in the year. The beginning of the school year is usually about seeing what they've learned last year and what they retained over the summer. But it's also about finding their flow, figuring out new ways to challenge themselves. Let them get back in the swing of things, but just keep a watchful eye on them. If you start to feel like they need a nudge, that's when it's time to intervene.
- Homework is their responsibility, not yours. So many parents start to believe over time that their children are incapable of handling their homework, or they just aren't smart enough. But the reality is, it's their teacher's job to teach them, and it's the kids' job to do the homework. If they need help, let them ask you, and let it be okay for them to ask you. Don't send the message that you don't have time, otherwise they will feel like they are just bothering you.
- Set a screen time limit. If they need a computer to do their homework, allow that time, but consider setting the computer in an area where they are under your supervision (that way it's easy to tell if they got distracted) while also in a place they can concentrate - away from TVs or tablets/phones. Remember that time on the screen is time away from each other. Try to use scheduled screen times as rewards, and allow extra time if they completed their work properly and efficiently.
- Take advantage of the commute time. Keep in mind that your children are going to be away from you for several hours every day, and that's time that you'll miss out on being there for them. Listen to what's going on with their friends - even if you honestly don't understand it sometimes. Ask them how they like their teacher. Teach them that it's good to tune into what's going on in other people's lives.
- Don't take on too much, and don't over-commit to extracurriculars. We know the drill, school starts, sports start. But sometimes, the overscheduling, the commuting, the committing for so many days, can get overwhelming - and not just for parents. Remember what we read about kids feeling your stress? It not only affects them emotionally, but it can carry into their school work. They can get lethargic in class, start forgetting assignments, and their grades can start slipping. Remember parents, sometimes you just have to teach them the word "NO". It's never easy, but it's for their own good. After all, they are the next generation of society.
We hope that these tips have been helpful for you, and we'll be keeping you in our thoughts. Best of luck parents!
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NAR says introducing competition into the credit scoring process has the potential to lower costs, improve efficiency and open the door to more qualified home buyers. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are moving forward with updated credit scoring models for all forms of mortgage lending. The announcement was made by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William J. Pulte. The FHA followed suit announcing it would accept Vantagescore and a new FICO score beginning in 2027. The move builds on Pulte’s announcement last year that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would begin testing VantageScore 4.0 as part of the mortgage underwriting process. The National Association of REALTORS® welcomed the change, saying a more modern approach to evaluating credit could broaden access to mortgage financing. The updated models may be particularly helpful for consumers with limited traditional credit histories, giving more prospective buyers an opportunity to qualify for a mortgage. “The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s announcement marks an important step forward in modernizing the mortgage marketplace,” says NAR Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn. “For years, the National Association of REALTORS® has advocated for a more competitive and innovative credit scoring system, one that better reflects how consumers manage their financial lives today.” VantageScore 4.0 was created by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion and is designed to evaluate credit behavior over time. The model can also incorporate certain payment information that has historically received less consideration in credit scoring, including rental, utility and telecommunications payments. Consumers who consistently make those payments on time could benefit from having that information reflected in their credit profiles. The Fair Isaac Corporation, commonly known as FICO, is working to implement its own modern score. “Introducing competition into the credit scoring process has the potential to lower costs, improve efficiency and open the door to qualified borrowers who may have been overlooked under older models,” McGahn says. “By allowing multiple credit scoring models that consider rent, utility and other payment histories, this policy can provide a fuller picture of a borrower’s creditworthiness and open the door to homeownership for more Americans.” NAR says the availability of additional credit scoring models could increase competition within the credit reporting industry while potentially improving accuracy and reducing costs. NAR will also continue to monitor the mortgage market and the experiences of lenders and consumers as these models are implemented to help ensure they are working as intended. This includes evaluating how the models affect access to credit, accuracy and consistency in mortgage underwriting and the broader homeownership market. For more information, visit fhfa.gov/policy/credit-scores.
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