7 Tips for Back to School Preparation

Each year, we begin summer by throwing our child’s backpacks and books in the closet, kicking back and, relaxing. Months of ignoring routine and enjoying the summer sun makes it nearly impossible to put ourselves back in school mode. Returning to your school time routine doesn’t have to be a hassle. 

Consider these 7 tips to prepare both you and your child for the next school semester:

1. During the last week of summer before school begins, start bringing routine habits back into your daily lives. Bring back wake up times and bedtimes. Have your child get dressed for the day at the same time they would for school and have them eating during the same times as well.
2. Since school gives children more responsibilities, give your child certain tasks that they will have to manage on their own to prepare them.
3. If you don’t already have your launch pad in gear, you’ll want to designate a place for the essentials. To avoid early morning scrambles, have your child have a designated place for their lunch box and backpack.
4. Establish a specific time each day where your child will complete their homework. It is smart to have your child do their homework during the time that you are cooking or finishing other household chores. This will make them more motivated to get it done since you’ll be standing over their shoulder.
5. If your child’s school day ends before you are off of work, you’ll want to start deciding what their afternoon plans will be ahead of time. Whether you decide to enroll your child in an after-school program or arrange play dates with their friends, it is important that you get this out of the way before the night before the first day of school.
6. As a working parent, it is important that you have a plan in place for when your child gets sick. You may need to fill out forms ahead of time to have a certain trusted person or babysitter pick your child up from school, just in case.
7. Most importantly, make going back to school a family affair.

Insurance Policy Centres is available for all of your Iowa insurance needs. Contact us today and allow us to provide you with the peace of mind knowing your assets are adequately protected.

Teach Good Financial Habits to Kids From the Start

The relationship your kids have with money starts when they're very young. You don't have to constantly fight--just teach them the value of a dollar from the beginning using these ideas:
·  Give them an allowance--and stick to it. Agree on a reasonable weekly or monthly amount and then let your child know that he or she must stay within that allowance. Creating this habit now will form the basis for them to be responsible about their finances as adults.
·  Assign chores. Don’t link allowances to the completion of household chores. Let kids know they are expected to help out—without expecting pay.
·  Let them see you paying the bills. Expose them to the fact that with living comes bills. Encourage them to ask you questions about the bill-paying process, writing checks, etc.
·  Train teens about credit. Before they go off to college or go out on their own, teach your teenagers that credit cards are a privilege, not a right. Discuss the consequences of abusing credit, such as damaging their credit rating, high interest rates, and getting into debt

Insuring Your College Student 101

As you plan to be an empty-nester and send your child off to college, there are multiple steps you must take to make the transition a smooth one. Many parents forget to consider how they will insure all the valuables their child brings with them to college. There are a variety of insurance options you can choose from when it comes to insuring your college student’s belongings while away from home.

Homeowners’ Insurance
If your child will be living on a college-owned property or in a dorm, their possessions will likely be covered under your existing homeowners’ insurance policy. However, typical homeowners’ insurance policies only cover 10% of the policy’s coverage for those personal belongings. That means that you will only receive $10,000 of coverage if your policy covers contents for $100,000. You can also expect to pay a deductible for this coverage.

Renters’ Insurance
Whenever your child lives on a non-college-owned property, your homeowners’ insurance will not cover their belongings. Therefore, you will need to purchase a renters’ insurance policy. This is one of the least expensive insurance policies and will provide them with sufficient coverage to protect their valuables.

Student Policies
Depending on your insurance provider, you may be able to purchase a student policy, known as a specialized property insurance policy. This applies to students who live in dorms, in an apartment, in a college-owned property, or studying abroad. This inexpensive insurance option will offer you the peace of mind knowing your child’s valuables are protected if they are stolen or damaged from one of the covered perils.

At Insurance Policy Centres we can help you determine the best insurance option based on yours and your child’s unique needs. Contact us today and allow us to provide you with the peace of mind knowing your assets are adequately protected.

Don’t Get Burned This Summer

Protect yourself and your family from harmful effects of the sun.

Summer means outside time with picnics, camping, boating – even yard work. All that extra time outdoors though, exposes you to potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. These rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes.

Think you’re sun-savvy? Take this quiz to test whether you know how to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful effects.

1. True or False: Unused sunscreen should be thrown out after a year.

False. According to the Centers for Disease Control, sunscreen has a shelf life of up to three years – less if it’s been exposed to high temperatures. Always shake the bottle to fully mix the ingredients.

2. True or False: A sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating of 30 is twice as good as an SPF of 15.

False: According to the American Cancer Society, SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93 percent of ultraviolet "B" (UVB) rays, while SPF 30 filters out about 97 percent. An SPF 100 filters about 99 percent. The higher the SPF rating, the smaller the difference. However, no sunscreen provides 100 percent protection.

3. True or False: Protection from the sun isn’t necessary on a cloudy day.

False: According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) up to 80 percent of the sun's UV rays get through clouds on an overcast day.

4. The sun's rays are most harmful only at noon, right?

Wrong: According to the CDC, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is the most hazardous for UV exposure.

5. I’ll use a tanning bed instead of the sun. These are OK, right?

Wrong. According to the American Cancer Society, tanning lamps give out UVA and usually UVB rays as well. Both ultraviolet "A" (UVA) and UVB rays can cause long-term skin damage and can contribute to skin cancer.

Want to have fun in the sun while reducing the risks associated with exposure to UV rays? These suggestions can help.

Protect yourself

If it’s cool out, don’t be fooled. People often get sunburned in cooler weather because they don’t think about protecting themselves if it’s not hot. Even when swimming, UV rays can reach below the water’s surface to give you a burn.

Be especially careful if you have:

• pale skin
• blond, red, or light brown hair
• been treated for skin cancer
• a family member who's had skin cancer

Fortunately, you don’t have to avoid the sun completely. Here are some pointers to help protect yourself and your family.

Use sunscreen

Apply about 20 minutes before going outside. Sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 15 and provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays. A higher SPF number means more UVB protection (UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn). Reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating. Don’t forget sensitive spots like the tops of the ears, nose and feet. For those who don’t have much hair, don’t forget the top of your head!

Wear protective clothing

A long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses offer great protection from the sun. Look for hats and clothing made of tightly woven materials. If you can see light through the fabric, UV rays can get through, too.

Sunglasses

Wear sunglasses that block UV “A” and “B” rays. Wrap-around styles give the most protection.

Shade

The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Find shade or go inside if possible.

Be careful around water and sand

These reflect the sun and can actually double UV exposure.

Be careful with medications

Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs can increase your sensitivity to sun exposure and increase the risk of sunburn. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any medications you take.

Protect children

Children tend to spend more time outdoors and burn more easily. Be sure your child is wearing sunscreen or protective clothing. If your child burns easily, be extra careful to cover up, limit exposure and apply sunscreen.

If you’re concerned about the day-to-day intensity of the sun, the Environmental Protection Agency provides a no cost UV index by ZIP code that’s updated daily.

Check out these related resources:

Prevent Heat Stroke