Angie's List

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― School's just around the corner and that means it's time to make sure you're child's prepared for the new year. But we're not just talking about pencils, paper and backpacks.

In this weeks Angie's List report Jim Donovan takes a look at some other things you should get in order before your kids head back to school.

Angie's List founder Angie Hicks says, "Don't wait until the last minute because items you've been looking for are going to get picked over."

She also reminds parents not to just focus on supplies. You want to be sure any tools your child needs are also ready for the new year; like your home computer.

"We talked to some highly rated computer repair companies on Angie's List and best advice they gave was to do a once-over of your computer before school starts. You don't want to run the risk that the computer crashes right before you're expected to hand in a big paper, for example. Check your virus and spyware and make sure they are up to date," says Angie.

Also, plan ahead, if your little one tends to struggle in certain subjects you might want to line up a tutor early on. Angie says, "If you're looking for a tutor, you want to check their experience. You want to see how they interact with your child, because if they don't have a good interaction with your child, you're not going to get a good return.

COMPUTER ADVICE:

-In need of repair? Call several shops and ask them about their diagnostic and repair fees. Get an estimate of what repairs will cost before you authorize any work done. Get all guarantees in writing.

-Save yourself: Before you bring in your computer for repair or service, back up your data and delete any sensitive information.

-Get up-to-date: Update all of your virus and spyware software and install all other necessary updates. It's not always the best choice to buy spyware and antivirus software from where you bought your computer. Usually those programs can be very expensive while free programs are available online.

If you're in the market for a new computer, take into consideration your child's needs. Some computers are better suited than others depending upon factors such as grade level, subject matter, and wear and tear.

-Don't wait until the last minute to buy a computer for school. Give yourself at least a month before school starts, if possible, so you can install everything that you need, download your old files, and get comfortable with the new computer.

-Desktop or laptop? It really depends on your child. While a laptop is more convenient than a desktop, laptops are also more expensive and fragile.

-Back up, back up, back up. An external hard drive is relatively inexpensive considering your child won't be scrambling to rewrite that 20 page term paper when the computer crashes.

ADVICE ON TUTORS:

Make the environment in which a child learns one where he or she can focus and feel supported. Oftentimes a student will fear failure, but if help is available immediately and the child knows this, he or she is much less likely to allow emotional aspects of school affect their cognitive ability.

It is important to tailor a tutoring session to the individual student. If that student feels more comfortable in a group of students and thrives off competition, then a group session is best. If a student is shy about her or his academic prowess, then individual tutoring is probably in order.

Put your child on a school schedule, including bedtime, wake-up time, mealtime and study time, prior to the first day of school to help ease him or her back into a routine.

Make sure your child studies or is tutored in between semesters so he or she doesn't lose the knowledge they've gained. Read books that are appropriate grade level, do something with math like multiplication tables, counting money or word problems.

Go over school skills with your kids whenever you get a chance. Have them do math in their heads at the checkout counter of the grocery store, read billboards aloud when you're driving in the car, or help you measure out ingredients in the kitchen. They'll love the attention and it will keep their skills sharp.

Have an older sibling read aloud to a younger sibling. It creates a sense of accomplishment and maturity. Also, have a family reading time when the children can read aloud.

Angie's List recommends parents check the tutor's credentials, contact references or check Angie's List for reports on the tutor, and read the fine print on any contract before entering into a hiring agreement with a tutor. Also, interview the tutor in advance with your child present to get a feel for how their personalities would mesh.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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