It’s Back to School Tax Free Holiday in Florida: July 25 – August 7, 2022

 

The sun is shining bright during summer break but before we know it, school bells will be ringing with the first day of school for most Polk County Students coming up on Wednesday, August 10th. 

Families will soon be heading out to shop for new school supplies, uniforms, and lots of other things that come with the start of a new school year. To help make the back-to-school transition a bit easier and save some money, the Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is underway from July 25 - August 7. 

Our good friends at Lakeland Mom have you covered with a handy dandy Back-to-School Guide for Polk County at https://lakelandmom.com/back-to-school-guide-polk-county/ to download school calendars,  get a list of back to school events and locations for free school supplies, sign up for after school programs and homework help, and much more.

It’s a good idea for parents to help their students transition from summer break to a more structured back to school routine a few weeks before the start of the new school year. Make school shopping trips a fun experience by not waiting until the last minute when everyone’s in a rush. Think about introducing earlier bedtime and morning wake-up schedules so your child’s body clock will adjust and they’ll be well rested.

Some youth thrive on change but others may find transition to a new school year difficult to navigate. Watch for signs of distress as children enter a new grade and help them prepare by monitoring mood changes, sleep patterns, and signs of isolation. 

You want your child to know that you are there for them every step of the way to avoid the dangers of stress and the harmful temptation to turn to substance abuse and other risky behaviors to cope. Keep the lines of communication open by talking about their feelings and encouraging healthy coping mechanisms such as daily exercise, nutritious meals, staying connected to positive social supports, and modeling healthy ways to manage stress.

We wish you a safe and enjoyable rest of your summer and start of a successful 2022-2023 school year!