The real cost of back to school
My daughter all packed up and ready for first grade. Credit: Newsday/Tara Conry
The sparkly cat backpack was all packed up. Every folder, notebook, crayon box and accessory labeled, properly placed in their assigned supply box or Ziploc bag — as the teacher had requested.
I set it out on the bench near the front door so it would be ready to go for the first day of school the next morning.
But it was gone.
I found it instead in my 6-year-old daughter's bedroom. Its contents now scattered across her bed, some on the floor ... and after having already put in a sleep-deprived full day of work that started at 5 a.m. — and braved the hot, congested middle school hallways with my oldest to get him ready for his first day — the scene almost broke me.
Yes, Long Island, we are back to school. And I'm already feeling stressed.
Many of us are starting earlier than usual — before Labor Day — and the transition from vacations, beach days and lazy backyard hangouts to the reality of crazy schedules, endless school supply requests and new school year expectations seems tougher than usual.
I thought I was done with my shopping but still found myself overnighting items from Amazon and picking through what little supplies were left at Target this week to accommodate last-minute requests.
More than $850 per kid
Desiree Smalls, of Glen Cove, a single mother of two girls, said she paid $150 for backpacks, another $120 on school supplies and $300 for new clothes for the kids to return to school. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Two recent surveys found that parents were expecting to spend on average more than $850 per kid for back to school shopping. We spoke with Long Island parents to see how they are dealing with it.
School supplies — including new backpacks for both my kids — cost me around $350. But when you start to add in new sneakers and back-to-school wardrobes, I can see how it adds up.
It has to be 'drippy'
My 6-year-old daughter's current style inspirations are Barbie and Sharpay from High School Musical, so she has opinions already on what she wears. But the boys too are starting to request certain brands like GOAT USA and Baseball Lifestyle 101 — a Long Island-based clothing brand that has become popular among kids and teens. It's best known for its "drippy" ice cream-inspired designs.
Baseball Lifestyle 101 in Roosevelt Field has become a popular store for tween boys. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
As one local mom put it, "If it’s not ‘drippy’ he doesn’t want to wear it."
Learn more about the brand and its backstory.
Last call for beaches and boats
Travel reporter Carissa Kellman and her dog Phin onboard a GoBoat, an inflatable motorized watercraft at Adventure Paddleboards in East Quogue. Credit: Randee Daddona
If you're not ready to say goodbye to summer, there's still some fun to be had at Long Island's beaches.
We've compiled a guide to the ones that still have lifeguards after Labor Day.
And if you're looking to try something new, this is the last call to rent one of these floating go-karts. The small battery-powered boats are slow, steady and simple to operate, making them popular with families.
For $50 you can rent one for 30 minutes or $75 for an hour, with room for one adult plus a child or dog.
We took one out on the water recently. Check it out.
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