Back-to-school shopping is a bittersweet occasion for kids; their vacation comes to an end and they will be promoted to the next grade, which implies that they will soon be shopping for new school supplies. Out of all the school supplies, shopping for a school backpack is what kids look forward to. Though choosing the right backpack for your kid might appear to be a simple task, it is, in fact, an elaborate process.
Back-to-school backpacks should combine utility and style as backpacks have now become a style statement. However, allowing your child to choose a backpack for school only on the basis of how the backpack looks can invite trouble.
So, follow these effective tips to ensure that you choose the right back-to-school backpack for your child.
Quality
One of the major factors to consider while choosing the right backpack for school is its quality. Quality doesn’t always imply that the item has to be expensive; there are certain affordable brands that manufacture amazing backpacks of high-quality. Though your child might not use the same backpack for the next year, you need to ensure that the one you choose is of good quality as it can help your child avoid certain unfortunate circumstances.
Size
While shopping for your kid’s back-to-school backpack, you need to make sure that you choose a backpack of the right size. The backpack for school shouldn’t be too big or too small; in fact, it should be relatively proportionate to the kid’s width. Also, while choosing the right backpack for your child, ensure that it’s height should extend from at least two inches below the child’s shoulder blades and reach the waist level. You can even consider buying the particular backpack if it ends slightly above the waist as it wouldn’t exert pressure on the child’s back. This will go a long way in preventing backaches or shoulder pain.
Broad straps and shoulder pads
Trendy backpacks with thin straps appear quite attractive but they do not hold the weight of the things stuffed in it, and this can either cause the straps to break or put undue pressure on the kid’s shoulder. So, to ensure that your kid doesn’t have to bear the brunt of bad fashion choices, choose a backpack for school that has broad straps and some padding for the shoulders. The padding would protect your child’s shoulders from excessive pressure.
Slots, dividers, and pockets of the backpack
While choosing a sturdy backpack for school that has wide straps and shoulder padding is great, you need to choose a back-to-school backpack that combines these features with the presence of slots, dividers, and pockets. This would allow proper distribution of the extra weight, and heavier items can be placed closer to the child’s back within the backpack, and the lighter items will be placed away from the body.
They say it is never too late to pursue your dreams. This is especially true when it comes to career and education. Unfortunately, not all can afford to quit their jobs and go back to school. This can make it difficult to pursue higher studies or certain courses that can enhance skills. Fortunately, there are several free online learning platforms that allow anyone and everyone to be able to have access to good quality learning resources.
Here are some of the best websites for free online education that you can sign up for.
Coursera
Coursera is one of the most popular platforms for taking free online courses. It features classes, both free as well as paid, on a variety of different topics. This platform is currently being used by over 35 million learners that have access to 150 university partners, 2,700 courses, 250 specializations, and four degrees. These courses are curated in partnership with leading universities and organizations from around the world, such as Stanford and Harvard.
edX
edX is a platform that was founded by Harvard and MIT that brings together top-ranked universities. This platform was founded to help eliminate the primary barriers that prevent people from pursuing education, i.e., cost, location, and access. Along with free courses, edX also offers certain specialized courses for a specific fee. The platform can be accessed by interested educators and technologists through Open edX if they wish to assist in developing new educational tools.
Udemy
Udemy is another online learning platform that is quite similar to Coursera in terms of the format of the courses. The unique aspect of this platform is that it allows users to build their own custom courses by compiling individual lessons so that these can be taught online. There are over 100,000 courses in 50 languages on this platform that are taught by 42,000 instructors from around the world.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed is a platform made by TED to help share ideas and knowledge from teachers to students. This award-winning platform has a global network of more than 250,000 teachers that teach several free courses on a variety of categories and themes. The lessons are taught using animated videos and interactive content so as to make them more interesting for the students.
If you are planning to pursue an accounting degree, you should consider doing it online. There are more than 580 institutions in the country that offer master’s degrees in accounting, and many of them offer their courses online. Therefore, you can pursue this course without shifting to a different state, and you can also continue with your current job. Here are the top picks of online master’s degrees in accounting that you can consider if you are interested in this field.
Auburn University
The online master’s degree in accounting at Auburn University is open for you if you hold a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business, and if you meet all the prerequisites for the business and accounting department. Students who enroll in this program receive study materials, instructions, and assignments that are similar to the on-campus course. The schedule is extremely flexible and can accommodate working professionals as well. Full-time students of this course can complete it within one year. They get to select electives like real estate finance and information risk analysis, among others. This course also prepares students for the Uniform CPA Exam. This whole program is available online, including the exam. However, students have to complete a three-day on-campus residency during their final semester.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina offers an online Master of Accounting (MAC) degree through its Kenan-Flagler Business School. This school accepts students from all undergraduate backgrounds. However, students who have business or accounting backgrounds may get course waivers. Students who enroll in this course can choose a concentration in Tax or Audit. If you take up the full-time course, you can finish it in less than 15 months. You can start this course either in June or December. This way, even if you miss the application deadline for one semester, you do not have to wait for an entire year to enroll in the course. The MAC degree is entirely online, except for a one-week leadership immersion on campus, which is mandatory and takes place at the beginning of the course.
University of Connecticut
An online master’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut is one of the best online courses in the country. This university offers a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program. Full-time students can complete it in two semesters. Working professionals who enroll in this degree take two courses per semester. The University of Connecticut also offers you electives like Forensic Accounting, Disclosure for Not-for-Profit Entities, and Fraud Examination among others.