What parent doesn’t dread the whole back to school time of year? This annual gauntlet seems to be pure torture for all involved, from the parents vying for the best spot in the checkout line to the tired, whiny kids being dragged from store to store in search of the perfect notebook. That’s why more and more parents are opting to do their back to school shopping online these days!

The Real Cost of Back to School

There are several areas that you spend money on while doing the back to school shopping. A huge part of it is the actual supplies, but you may not realize all the hidden costs that really add up.

- Eating out. Most back to school shopping days take more than a few hours and you end up eating at a fast food joint, which can get expensive if you are buying kid?s meals for everyone. – Gas. With gas prices so high these days, it?s definitely a consideration and you waste more gas sitting in traffic and driving around parking lots than you do on the freeway. – Treats. Let?s face it, no one expects their kids to be perfect for hours of trudging through stores collecting all the school supplies, so little things like chocolate bars and toy cars tend to become part of the trip. – Extras. Maybe there?s a super sale on socks that you realize you could get . . . even though they aren’t on your list. Or maybe your toddler just screamed too loud and you ended up buying that Tonka dump truck . . . most shopping trips end with extra items in the cart. – Broken items. This doesn’t always happen, but when you have frustrated mothers and hyper kids . . . things happen. Especially in crowded stores. So you may end up paying for an item that your child accidentally knocked off a shelf and broke, adding to the cost of the day.

Add to this the amount of energy you waste running from store to store, chasing kids and trying to maintain some semblance of calm when the clerk ignores you for the millionth time and you have a true nightmare.

Shopping Online for School Supplies

All this tension, time and money can be eliminated with one simple tool . . . your computer. By shopping online for your school supplies, you?ll be able to buy when you have some free time, even after the kids are in bed! This eliminates the whining and fussing of hot, tired kids. You?ll also save quite a bit of money by doing your back to school shopping online, especially if you take a few minutes to join a rewards program or to look for coupon codes to bring the prices down a bit.

There’s no commute time or even any need to get dressed, if you don’t want to. The savings in time and money are huge when you opt to do your shopping online. And chances are you?ll find even better prices on retail websites than you would in the actual physical store! Once you’ve ordered your products and back to school supplies, you just need to sit back and relax, they?ll be delivered right to you and before school starts! It’s really the best way to do your back to school shopping, since it requires minimal effort and you get even better results. Not to mention, there?s no need to take the kids to the crowded mall and waste gas looking for a place to park!

ADHD or ADD is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects your child’s day-to-day performance and activities. It causes the brain to process information and external stimulus in a different way to other people.

Children with ADHD have minds that churn with a kaleidoscope of thoughts, images and sounds, which distract them and make it impossible to focus.

Common symptoms seen in ADHD are; Inattention, Distractibility, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity.

What Does This Mean For Your Child?

Children who have been diagnosed with ADHD can grow up to be highly successful adults if given the right encouragement, positive reinforcement and behavioral training. Your child needs to learn strategic coping mechanisms and have an understanding about how their brain functions so that they can excel in school, in the workplace and in personal relationships.

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD the first thing you need to do is to forget about standard parenting advice. ADHD children have unique needs and require creative parenting techniques in order to thrive.

Given the extreme distractibility of ADHD there are many seemingly simple tasks that will be very difficult for your child to accomplish.

- Time management is non-existent for ADD children and mornings are particularly difficult. Give your child only a couple of tasks to do such as: brush teeth, get dressed and eat breakfast. Always give them 5-10 minute warnings when you are getting ready to go. Reward your child whenever they are on time.

- Organization causes a lot of distress for most children with ADHD. This is because they try to be good and have everything in order but to start and finish a task is overwhelming for them. What also complicates matters is a terrible short-term memory. Misplacing and forgetting important documents or books is commonplace for ADHD sufferers. Get your child in the habit of packing their school bag the night before class and double-checking the contents.

- Paying attention is another major issue for your child. Many ADD children are so lost in their own minds that they do not notice when someone is speaking to them. They may even look directly at you but not hear one word. To ensure you have your child?s undivided attention stand directly in front of your child, make eye contact and have them repeat what you have said. Keep your directions clear and concise.

- Acting on impulse is of major concern for parents with an ADD child. This is one of the most difficult behavioral issues and the one that causes the most problems. Consistency and positive reinforcement for good choices is paramount for your child?s well being.

- Hyperactivity will cause your child to run when they should walk and fidget when they are supposed to be still. ADHD children cannot be still. Allow them the freedom to move and organize high-energy games to channel their restlessness in a constructive manner.

- Compliance to rules and schedules is another difficult thing for your child. This is not because they want to rebel or act out, it is because they live in the moment and have no concept of consequences. You need to give immediate feedback on behavior if you wish for it to change. Giving rewards for compliance will also help to reinforce good behavior and boost your child?s self esteem.

Children with ADHD require more positive reinforcements and reward based behavioral training than others. Depression and low self-esteem can manifest if your child is left to cope with the symptoms of ADD on their own.