Preparing for the new school year with your child.

The new school year is just about two weeks away. Besides the joy and excitement of children going to school and acquiring knowledge, parents are also concerned about buying books, uniforms, and organizing their children's studies. However, for families with limited finances, these expenses at the beginning of the school year are a major burden, causing many difficulties and anxieties.

Parents prepare books and school supplies, accompanying their children throughout the new school year.

In preparation for the new school year, Mr. Nguyen Van Tan from Hung Phu ward has been taking his daughter to the bookstore to buy school supplies. He meticulously selects notebook covers, rulers, pens, and other items, occasionally stroking his daughter's head affectionately and asking for her opinion on the items he has chosen. Mr. Tan shared: "This year, my daughter is starting first grade. She will surely be unfamiliar with many things, so my wife and I are always there to support her so she can quickly adapt to the new environment and study better."

Ms. Diem Kieu, from Thoi Lai commune, has two children. This school year, her children are in 10th and 7th grade. Ms. Kieu said: “I work as a civil servant, so my income is basic, and I spend very moderately. This year, the cost of textbooks, school supplies, uniforms, and preparing money for health insurance for my two children alone is expected to use up my entire monthly salary, about 7 million VND.”

Ms. Kieu shared that seeing her children happily choosing school supplies brought back memories of the past. Back then, her family was struggling, with many siblings, and her parents had to scrimp and save every penny to support their children's education. On the first day of school, when her mother took them to buy school supplies, Ms. Kieu and her siblings excitedly showed off their purchases to everyone in the neighborhood. Therefore, despite the hardships of life over the years, she has always saved and accumulated money to provide for her children's education.

“Regarding uniforms, last school year, the children wore old clothes. This year, my eldest daughter just started high school and is going to school far from home, so I ordered new uniforms. Over the past few days, I've been helping her cover and label her textbooks. My children are very excited and ready to welcome the new school year,” Ms. Kieu recounted.

Taking advantage of her lunch break when the pharmacy was quiet, Ms. Tuyet Nhung from Hung Phu ward recorded the expenses she had just incurred to prepare for the new school year for her children. Besides books and uniforms, the cost of extra tutoring for her two children left her "shocked".

Ms. Nhung confided: “My eldest daughter was accepted into a specialized high school for 10th grade and plans to become a math teacher, so she has to focus on studying the subjects included in the university entrance exam. My youngest daughter is in 6th grade, a new environment full of unfamiliarity, and I'm afraid she won't be able to keep up with her classmates, so she's also asked my permission to take extra classes… My family can't skimp on the money invested in books and education for my children. I just hope they study hard and have a bright future.”

To ensure that expenses at the beginning of the new school year don't exceed their financial capabilities, many parents plan their savings early. Ms. Bich Nhu from Thanh Phu commune shared: “I participate in a plastic rope weaving group. Since my two children started their summer break, every month, I receive my wages (about 4 million VND/month) and set aside 1.5 million VND in a piggy bank. After 3 months, I saved 4.5 million VND. I used this money to buy uniforms and textbooks for my children. Thanks to this, I feel less worried about the start of the school year.”

Ms. Ngoc Mai, residing in Thoi Long ward, has three young children of school age. Ms. Mai works as a seasonal laborer, and her husband is a construction worker; their combined monthly income is approximately 9 million VND. Ms. Mai recounted: “I have to be very frugal to cover daily living expenses. To prepare for the new school year for my children, I borrowed some money from relatives and will repay it gradually. Fortunately, my children receive support from the ward and local women's association officials in terms of notebooks and school supplies.”

Besides buying books and uniforms, many parents rearrange their schedules to pick up and drop off their children, or plan for their children to become more independent. Ms. Kim Hang from Cai Rang ward shared: “This year, my eldest daughter is in 12th grade. The school is about 8km from home, so I let her ride an electric bicycle. To help her get to school on her own, from the end of 10th grade, I bought a bike and had her practice, guiding her to understand traffic safety regulations.”

According to Ms. Kim Hang, she used to be responsible for taking her children to and from school. However, she recently gave birth to her second child, and her husband works far from home, so she is teaching her eldest daughter to be independent and proactive in managing her study schedule.

Although each family's circumstances are different, the love and responsibility that parents have for their children are boundless, wholeheartedly caring for them and hoping they will be well-behaved and excel in their studies... We believe that with good preparation and the love and care of parents, students will be motivated to enter the new school year with a joyful and enthusiastic attitude.

Text and photos: DONG TAM

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/cung-con-chuan-bi-nam-hoc-moi-a189659.html