I Family Focus

Get Ready,
Get Set
Go!

Making the school transition easier
psychologically and financially
in this dismal economy.

truth from them:'
Ethel Mogilevsky, 13,
He recommends that
of West Bloomfield
parents talk to their kids on
Special to the Jewish News
amid loads of school
a level they can understand
supplies - all bought
and encourage them to take
at discount.
part in the problem-solving
oing back to school
involves more than getting process.
Extracurricular
"Children need a sense of
to the bus stop on time
sports can add
the family coming togeth-
with a handful of sharpened pen-
up to big dollars:
er," he said, "and they're
cils. Besides the usual challenges
Erin Coiling, 11, of
much more adaptable and
of assembling fall wardrobes, buy-
Berkley is a
resilient than we realize.
ing school supplies, signing up for
competitive figure
extracurricular activities and meet- They're not going to break
skater; her brother
into pieces from adversity"
ing new teachers, many families are
Sean Coiling, 9, of
Deb Colling and her fam-
facing additional stresses brought
Berkley plays in a
about by the current economic situ- ily, who live in Berkley, had
travel hockey game.
to become more frugal last
ation.
year
when her husband,
Home foreclosures, job layoffs
Michael,
a physical therapist, moved
and a general atmosphere of uncer-
to
a
new
practice.
tainty have caused a lot of people
"It takes time to build up a new
to revamp their budgets and their
referral
base, so we were in a bit of
priorities. Some children already
a bind for a while,' Colling
have experienced the fallout
said.
caused by having to leave
A large part of the
their homes or schools,
Collings' budget is devoted
or doing without things
to sports activities for
or activities they used to
their children, Erin, 11, a
enjoy. Insecurity has sprung
competitive figure skater,
up even in families where
and Sean, 9, who plays
everything is still status
hockey on a traveling team.
quo. Professionals gener-
Aaron G oldner
Between skating lessons,
ally agree that it's best to
ice time and Sean's hockey
discuss these situations in
expenses, the Collings spend close
a way that is both truthful and age-
to $500 a month on sports. In addi-
appropriate.
tion, Erin has been diagnosed with
"Children are experts at detect-
ing changes in their parents' moods dyslexia and has weekly private
tutoring throughout the year, at a
and temperaments',' said Dr. Aaron
cost of $250 every month.
Goldner, a psychologist in private
"Her doctor has recommended
practice in Birmingham. "When
that she keep skating because it's
they can't interpret why this is hap-
so important for her self-esteem':
pening, they're more prone to anxi-
ety and depression. Children's self-
Keeping It Whole on page 16
esteem can suffer if parents hide the

Ronelle Grier

August 2.0 2009

53