**Work-Life Advisor**

**Vol. 15, No. 11, August 2007**

***Plain Text Version***

***[Our new address is:]{.underline}***

***1200 New Jersey Ave, SE***

***Room W56-402***

***Washington, DC 20590***

**Back-to-School Shopping: 7 Tips for Survival**

***Excerpt reprinted from:***

**Back-to-School Shopping:**

**A Survival Guide\
7 Tips for Buying Wisely**

***Yahoo! Deborah Hopewell, Shopping Editor***

Back-to-school shopping is a great opportunity for parents to teach
their children about responsible shopping habits, these tips will help
keep shopping stress-free:

• Before hitting the mall, help your child go through all the clothing
currently in his or her wardrobe, and clean out the outgrown and
seldom-worn clothes. Either put clothing away for a younger brother or
sister or donate it to charity. Then discuss what is needed to pull the
back-to-school wardrobe together.

• Once you\'ve seen what\'s left, ask your child to identify his
favorite items. \"If they do wear something a lot, find out why,\" says
Andre. \"And if they didn\'t wear something, find out why\" so that you
don\'t make the same mistake again.

• Talk about the styles the kids will be wearing this fall. Discuss the
difference between fads, classics and trends. \"It\'s important to
recognize that clothing is an expression of their youth and peer
group,\" says Andre, but it\'s also important to make appropriate
choices.

\"Kids rely on parents to be parents, not friends. And you need to let
them know that showing their belly button at school is not respectful."

• Browse through a few back-to-school catalogs with your child and talk
to them about the issue of \"what one wants\" and \"what one can
afford.\" A calm financial conversation at home is one way to avoid an
emotional blow-out at the store.

• Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes that are easy to take off
and put on for fewer hassles in the dressing room.

• Take children shopping for a few hours, not the entire day. \"What
I\'ve advised parents, especially those with young girls, is to let them
go to the mall - then go back and help them with the purchasing,\" says
Andre. \"Let them do the window shopping, then limit the shopping time
with parents to two hours.\" Long, shop-till-you-drop sprees usually
lead to impulse buying, arguments and exhaustion.

• Avoid buying everything before school starts. Andre advises doing some
shopping for the first couple of school months, when the weather is
typically warmer, then shop for warmer winter clothing. Another reason
to hold off on buying all at once is that once your children see what
everyone else is wearing, they might have different ideas about what
they like and dislike.

 

**Teens & Depression**

Teen depression isn't just moodiness. Depression is a serious problem
that if left untreated can lead to problems at home, school, drug and
alcohol abuse, or worse yet, to irreversible tragedy such as suicide.

Teens with depression do not necessarily appear sad and weepy. In fact,
according to the [American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry](http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/publication_store/your_adolescent_conduct_disorders),
"its symptoms can include irritability and rage."

**SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN TEENS**

-   Sadness or hopelessness

-   Irritability, anger, or hostility

-   Tearfulness or frequent crying

-   Withdrawal from friends and family

-   Loss of interest or enjoyment in activities

-   Changes in eating and sleeping habits

-   Restlessness and agitation

-   Feelings of worthlessness and guilt

-   Lack of enthusiasm and motivation

-   Fatigue or lack of energy

-   Difficulty concentrating and making decisions

-   Thoughts of death or suicide

Unlike adults who typically have the ability to seek assistance with
depression, teenagers often need to rely on parents, teachers or other
caregivers to recognize their suffering and get them the help they need.

If you feel that your teen is depressed, the first thing you should do
is to talk with your teen. In a loving and non-judgmental way, share
your concerns with your teenager, letting him or her know what specific
signs of depression you've noticed. To get helpful assistance in
treating the depression call your doctor, school counselor, mental
health professional or local crisis hotline.

For questions or additional information please call your **Work-Life**
**Advisor** or go to the following link.

<http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm>

**YOU & YOUR CHILD**

**A Summer Special**

**Learning Tips from SCORE!**

*2 tips will be given each month throughout the summer*

*(June, July & August)*

**Visit area businesses**. A factory, farm, greenhouse, fire station --
any place of business -- can be a learning site for your child. Call
these businesses to see if they conduct family or small-group tours.\
**Play a board game.** Have the whole family participate in a game
involving reading or math. MONOPOLY, for example, helps your child
practice math skills as a banker or a rent-collecting proprietor of
Atlantic Avenue and Water Works. Similarly, SCRABBLE tests everyone's
vocabulary and spelling skills.

*Reprinted from
[www.escore.com/about/programs/summerlearningtips.php](http://www.escore.com/about/programs/summerlearningtips.php)*

**August Work-Life EVENTS happening at DOT**

**August 9th**

["Budgeting 101"]{.underline}

Conference Room 3

(Money Management Inc.)

**August 14th**

["Advanced Investing Strategies"]{.underline}

Conference Room 8

(*Smith Barney*)

**August 21st**

["Long Term Care"]{.underline}

Conference Room 1

(*Transportation Federal Credit Union*)

**August 23rd**

["Retirement & Social Security Benefits, How it Works"]{.underline}

Conference Room 1

(*Social Security Administration*)

**August 28th**

["Your Adoption Questions Answered"]{.underline}

Conference Room 1

(*Child Welfare Information Gateway*)

**August 30th**

["Effective Communication"]{.underline}

Conference Room 1

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

**To Register for**

**August Events,**

**Please Send an E-mail to: Zakina.Brooker@dot.gov**