Prepare My Baby Toddler for College

8/14/2019 Prepare My Baby Toddler for College

1/17

Prepare My

Baby/Toddler for

College

Compiled by:


2/17

Table of Contents

Prepare My Infant for College, Month by Month

Prepare My Baby for College, Month by Month

Prepare My Two Year Old for College, Month by Month

Read My Baby/Toddler into College

Play My Baby/Toddler into College

Create a College-going Culture in the Nursery

Choose a Tax-free College Savings Account

Set Aside Twenty-five Dollars a Month for College

Know How Much to Save for College

Choose Smarter Baby Toys and Toddler Games

Do We Have a College-going Culture in Our Home?

Am I Setting the Groundwork for College with My Baby/Toddler?

www.EduGuide2 ONLINE EDUGUIDE


3/17

Prepare My Baby/Toddler for CollegeDo I need this EduGuide?

Yes, if your hopes and dreams for your child include a college education. This Guide contains information about setting aside savings

for college, creating a college-friendly atmosphere at home, playing with your baby and toddler in brain-boosting ways, and much

more.

How does it work?

l Quizzes help you know where you stand.

l Articles give you the background information you need to make a decision.

l ShortCuts help you take immediate action. Choose one or go through them all.

What will I learn?

l How to pay for collegeand how to get started

l How to create a college-going culture so its a given that your child will attend college

l How to play with your baby in brain-training ways

l How to read the best baby books aloud to even the squirmiest baby or toddler

l How to choose the best toys and activities to boost brainpower as babies age

Quick Solutions

l What can I do in 15 minutes? Take the Am I Setting the Groundwork for College with My Baby/Toddler? quiz and decide on afew goals to set. Or designate a cozy corner for baby and toddler reading.

l What can I do in one hour? Read Prepare My Infant for College, Month by Month, then print it and post it in the nursery to keep

track of your progress. Or call the bank to find out how you can set up an automatic monthly savings plan.

l What can I do in a day? Research the various savings plans to decide which one is best for you. Or take your family and a

picnic lunch to a nearby college campus.

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/Detail/tabid/304/id/2482/Prepare-Baby-College-Each-Month.aspxhttp://www.eduguide.org/Parents/TakeQuiz/tabid/114/view/StepTakeQuiz/quizId/64/Default.aspx


4/17

Prepare My Infant for College, Month by MonthBaby Teaching Opportunities Occur at Every Stage

The way you play with your baby, from the time you bring him home until he starts toddling across the room, helps establish lifelong

patterns of thinking. Here are some month-by-month ideas for making the most of that time.

l One month: Talk to your baby. Babies understand language long before they can speak, so its important to talk to your baby

even though she is not yet ready to answer. For example, talk your way through each diaper change to let her know what youre

doing and why. Your newborn is happy to hear about every little chore because your voice is music to her ears. Though it

sounds simple, talking to your infant is one of the best ways of building brain power, according to this article in the New York

Times, "From Birth, Engage Your Child with Talk."

l Two months: Read to your baby. Its never too early to turn babies into bookworms. The best baby books feature brightly

colored pictures with rhyming, melodic phrasing on sturdy board pages.l Three months: When you ask your baby a question, pause for the answer. Respond to his babbles as if hes actually spoken

words. This gives him confidence that he is important to you.

l Four months: Once your baby can support herself on her elbows, include tummy time in each days babies activities. Spread

out a soft blanket on the floor and surround her with safe fun-to-touch toys in contrasting colors. Add an unbreakable mirror to

the mix babies love checking themselves out.

l Five months: Play pick-it-up. When your baby sits in his highchair, allow him to toss his sippy cup over the side. Pick it up and

laugh with him when he drops it again. This helps him explore gravity and cause-and-effect.

l Six months: Now that shes sitting up to play, give her musical toys to experiment with sound. And be sure to sing to her.

l Seven months: Does someone in your household or extended family speak a foreign language? Teach your child your child

those words right alongside English.

l Eight months: Crawlers love to explore. Indulge this passion by stocking a low kitchen cupboard with safe items such as

stainless steel bowls, plastic lids and chunky wooden spoons.

l

Nine months: Roll a ball back and forth, stack blocks and make them fallanything active is perfect for this age.l Ten months: As she begins to talk, if your child says baw instead of ball, repeat the proper pronunciation back to her. Dont

scold her, but do say the word correctly yourself, and fight the urge to join her in baby talk.

l Eleven months: Play peek-a-boo to help teach your child about object permanencesomething doesnt disappear just

because its covered up.

l Twelve months: Load up your babys bookcase with plenty of board books featuring bright pictures and simple text. Nab them

cheap at garage sales, trade with friends, or borrow them from the library.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/health/29brod.html


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Prepare My Baby for College, Month by MonthFinding Playful Teaching Opportunities

Child development research shows that during the first three years of life, our mental abilities increase by leaps and bounds. Here are

some month-by-month ideas for making the most of your play time with your toddler.

l Thirteen months: Encourage talking by naming items aloud as you go about your day: Look at the red sign. Its telling me to

stop. See the big, blue truck go by? Theres your brothers school! When baby joins you, show youre interested in what he has

to say by repeating his words back to him. Though it sounds simple, talking to your baby is one of the best ways of building

brain power, according to this article in the New York Times, "From Birth, Engage Your Child with Talk"

l Fourteen months: Provide your child with a set of chunky crayons and plenty of scrap paper for coloring and scribbling.

l Fifteen months: Make the transition from cutesy baby talk to proper names. For example, stop calling thempiggies and start

calling them toes.l Sixteen months: Help your child work on fine-motor skills by providing manipulative toys such as shape sorters, blocks,

wooden puzzles, connecting beads, and other baby activities.

l Seventeen months: Turn the tub into a science lab. Experiment with bubbles and without, and work together to see what items

float and which ones dont.

l Eighteen months: Check out your librarymany offer toddler story time once a week, with the best baby books, games, songs

and socialization, all for free.

l Nineteen months: Write out simple paper labels for items such as door, lamp, and window, and post them around your

childs room to encourage reading.

l Twenty months: Review your childs library, adding traditional books to the board versions. Make it a habit to visit the library

once a week to borrow new ones.

l Twenty-one months: Play make-believe with your child, and make sure she has plenty of props such as dress-up clothes,

telephones and kitchen utensils.

l

Twenty-two months: Play quality kid music to get your child movingand learn A-B-C and 1-2-3 concepts along the way.Borrow CDs from friends, look for used albums at garage sales, or check them out at the library.

l Twenty-three months: Arrange play dates with friends, both at home and at the other childs house, so you toddler can learn to

share, cooperate, and get along with non-family members.

l Twenty-four months: Start shopping for preschools to find the best fit for you and your child. Get background information

through the EduGuide article Your Childs Ready for Preschool: Choose One Thats Right for Your Family."

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/Detail/tabid/304/id/1508/Preschool-Parent-Involvement-In-Education.aspxhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/health/29brod.html


6/17

Prepare My Two Year Old for College, Month by MonthChild development research shows that during the first three years of life, our mental abilities increase by leaps and bounds. Here are

some month-by-month ideas for making the most of your play time with your toddler.

l Twenty-five months : A major accomplishment between ages two and three is learning to draw and write letters. Provide plenty

of pencils, crayons and washable markers and lots of scrap paper, including mini-notebooks for your little one to take and use

on the go.

l Twenty-six months: Help your child embrace numbers through counting games and toys. One idea for toddler activities: Give

her a muffin tin and a selection of small food items such as Cheerios, raisins and pretzel sticks. Suggest ways to sort (one of

each item per cup) and then watch as she comes up with sorting solutions on her own.

l Twenty-seven months: Your little one wants to be just like you. Make sure she has plenty of grown-up materials for make-

believe, including job props and dolls for playing house.

l Twenty-eight months: Offering choices will teach your child how to make decisions, but set limits to avoid overwhelming.Instead of saying, Which shirt do you want to wear today? ask, Would you prefer the blue or green shirt? And instead of

saying, What do you want for lunch? say, Would you like a peanut butter sandwich or macaroni and cheese?

l Twenty-nine months: Pay close attention to your childs language development. If hes not using three- to six-word sentences

with a vocabulary of around 50 words, you might check in with your pediatrician to make sure everythings on track.

l Thirty months: Keep reading aloud to your child once a day, even if she spends time on her own sitting quietly with books fortoddlers. Hearing you speak the words on the page is crucial to her learning to read on her own one day.

l Thirty-one months: Play board games such as Chutes and Ladders and card games such as Concentration. Age-appropriate

games teach colors, counting, memory skills, turn-taking, and good sportsmanshipso dont let your child win every time!

l Thirty-two months : Push the limits. Your child will surprise you by how ready he is to learn. If he can count by 1s, teach him to

count by 2s, and then by 5s. Counting in the car is a great way to pass the time on commutes and long tripscount stop signs,

billboards, and so on.

l Thirty-three months: Fine-motor skills will be important for cutting and writing activities in preschool. Lay the groundwork with

finger paints and Play-doh. Both can be homemadecheck out EduGuides recipes for these and other tactile supplies.

l Thirty-four months : Give your child a pair of blunt-tipped scissors and your supervision. Start with thicker paper such as amanila folder, and draw fat, straight lines for him to cut through. Cutting is a near-daily preschool activity and offers great hand-eye coordination training.

l Thirty-five months: Reevaluate your childs library, adding nonfiction titles alongside the picture books. Choose topics that

interest your child, such as trains or animals. Dont toss the easier books with fewer words these will likely be the first books

your child reads on his own, even if hes just repeating text he memorized after hearing it so many times.

l Thirty-six months: Start preschool with a positive attitude. This is the official beginning of your childs formal education. Send

her off with confidence, knowing that shes been learning with you all along.



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Read My Baby/Toddler into CollegeFor Your College-bound Baby, Teaching Starts with Books

Reading to your child fosters a close, loving relationship between the two of you that will one day give him the confidence to soar off to

college. Learning to readwhich begins with ABCs in preschool and really gets going in kindergartenis easier when the child

comes to it with a love for books. Heres how to get started:

l Begin reading books to your baby even before he can walk and talk. The best baby books feature bright pictures and simple

text.

l Read to your baby as often as you think of it . Make it part of your daily routinebefore naps and bedtime are easy times to fit

in a story or two. This offers the bonus result of calming your baby.

l Choose comfortable reading spots. Find several places in your home that will make baby and toddler reading a pleasure.

Make sure each spot has: a cozy seat that fits the two of you good lighting a stash of favorite books, a soft blanket and astuffed animal for snuggling.

l For very young babies, choose short books with big, colorful pictures. This is not the time for the elaborate plots of somepopular childrens booksyour baby wont sit still past page two. Instead, choose books with one or two short sentences per

pagetry toddlers books or funny bedtime stories.

l Later, books that are lyrical, such as nursery rhymes . Young-reader selections by Dr. Seuss, will captivate children with their

rhythm, helping develop a love of language.

l Make reading interactive. As you go through the book, point out pictures of interest. See the cat, Jimmy? Also, take time to

get a response from your listener: Look at the foot, Sarah. Where is your foot? Can you touch your foot? Here is Sarahs foot.

Tickle, tickle!

l You dont always have to read a long book word for word . Instead, skip pages and paraphrase the story. Gradually start

sticking to the book as writtenespecially once your child points out, Mommy, you missed a page!

l Know when to stop. When your little one gets restless and asks to be put down, close the book. Make reading fun, not a chore.

Source: Lynn Dean



8/17

Play My Baby/Toddler into CollegeFamily Ideas Promote Fun Learning and College Prep

Who would think you could play your way into college? Anyone who studies toddler and baby brain development, thats who.

If you wish to give your child a jump start on college, be sure you are including the following in your play:

l Interaction. Consistent long-term attention increases your childs confidence and capacity to learn.

l Touch. Holding and cuddling stimulates brain growth. Babies who are gently massaged three times a day gain more weight,

are more alert, and cry less than babies who arent.

l Talk. Talking builds verbal skills needed to succeed in school. Infants whose parents talk to them more frequently and use

bigger adult words will develop better language skills. Talk to your little one with a kind voice, a wide range of vocabulary, and

a lot of expression.l Music. Early music experiences help develop math skills. Although all kinds of music can help to stimulate the brain, loud

noises can be harmful so keep the volume low.

l Books. Reading the best baby books not only stimulates brain activity, but also creates a lifelong love of books. (See the Read

My Baby/Toddler Into College ShortCut.)

Make the most of your toddlers activities and increased mobility by including:

l Make Believe. Dressing up and playing make-believe helps nurture kid creativity.

l Art. Use crayons, washable markers, finger paints, and paper to get those creative juices flowing. When theyre done with time,

say, Tell me about your picture. Hang toddler crafts on your refrigerator at the artists eye level.

l Play Dates. Work on people-skills by inviting playmates to your home. To keep the peace, remember that toddlers appreciate

multiples of the same toy and play best when theres plenty of supervision.l Obstacle Courses. Place large empty boxes on the floor for your child to crawl in, on, and through. Tables, chairs, stools,

pillows, laundry baskets and more can be incorporated to build motor skills, logic, and imagination.

l Move to Music. Create your own instruments out of empty oatmeal boxes, coffee cans, pots and spoons, pan lids, and craft

materials. Making music is a melodic way to stimulate brain development and future math skills.

The following are suggestions for age-appropriate brain-training toys:

l Zero to Three Months: Soft blocks, books with colorful pictures, mobiles, unbreakable mirrors, hand puppets animated by a

caregiver

l Six to Twelve Months: Stackable cups, easy shape sorters, simple knob puzzles, shakers, lullaby CDs

l One year old: Stacking toys, containers for filling and dumping, activity boxes, texture books like Pat the Bunny, simple dolls,

play dishes, musical toysl Two years old: Shape sorters, interlocking rings, nesting toys, knob puzzles, simple board games such as Candy Land,

picture books, dress-up materials, blunt scissors and paper, music CDs

l Three years old: Magnetic boards with letters and numbers, lacing cards, sorting games, building blocks, realistic dolls,

kitchen utensils, hand puppets, craft materials, plastic animals, dollhouse sets, musical instruments.

Sources: Barbara L. Cairns, Brenda Nixon, West Bloomfield Township (Michigan) Public Library

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/Detail/tabid/304/id/2483/Read-Baby-Toddler-into-College.aspx


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Create a College-going Culture in the NurseryHigh Expectations Help Babies/Toddlers Achieve Dreams

Children raised in households where attending college is the expectation (though not necessarily the tradition) have a much better

chance of going themselves. Here are some family ideas to plan for college as babies age:

l Talk about where, not if, your child will go to college. Sing The Victors to your baby while you bounce her on your knee (or

preferably in utero)babies know a great college fight song when they hear it. If Daddy went to MSU or Notre Dame, you can

give him equal time (especially if hes tone deaf).

l Take a picnic to a college campus. After you eat, wander around, admire the buildings, and talk about the learning that

happens inside.

l Talk about goals and ways to achieve dreams. If your toddler says he wants to be a teacher, explain that hell need a college

degree first, and mention a few universities that specialize in elementary education.l Be a super-fan . Hang your favorite schools flag from your porch on game days, and wear clothing that shows your spirit. Even

though she doesnt know what NMU stands for, shell grow up knowing that Wildcats are proud of their school, for example.

l Use outside experiences. Use your dogs check-up as a chance to talk about what a veterinarian does. Expand the

conversation to include what other types of doctors do in their jobs. Point out framed diplomas hanging on their office walls.

l If you attended college, tell stories about your time there and be sure to include some pictures. The older they get, the more

kids get a kick out of seeing mommy and daddy looking dorky in their out-of-style clothes.

Sources:

http://collegetools.berkeley.edu/

www.colorincolorado.org

http://www.colorincolorado.org/http://collegetools.berkeley.edu/


10/17

Choose a Tax-free College Savings AccountThe Pros and Cons of Five Popular Options

Eduguide Staff

Even if your child will not be college age for quite a few years, its never too early to begin saving money for college. Here are five

different, inexpensive ways to start a tax-free college savings account. In order to pick the one thats right for you, weigh the pros and

cons of each. But in the end, any savings program is better than none.

529 Savings Plans

Pick the state that has the best plan for you. Choosing your home states plan can result in tax and other benefits. In Michigan,

EduGuides home state, families can begin with as little as twenty-five dollars in the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP).

(See related ShortCut: Set Aside Twenty-five Dollars a Month for College: Without Raiding the Sofa Cushions.)

Pro: Contributions are eligible for state tax deductions. In Michigan, its a $10,000 tax deduction ($5,000 for single filers). You can use

529 funds at any accredited postsecondary college in the United States and at many schools abroad.

Con: The plans tax-free status is up for renewal by Congress in 2010. The account value may fluctuate depending on investment

options.

529 Prepaid Plans

Pay tuition now and lock in todays rates. Most states have prepaid plans. Example: with the Florida Prepaid College Plan, you can buy

your five-year-old two years of tuition at community college (a lump sum of $4,193) with $37.14 paid every month until your child starts

college. The same two years of college thirteen years from now when your child starts college could be nearly $10,000. By prepayingand locking in todays rate, you could save $5,900. If you didnt lock in todays tuition rate with a prepaid plan, youd need to save

seventy-seven dollars each month to pay for the same two years of college.

Pro: Guarantees against rising tuition costs. Monthly payment contract will motivate you to save. Can be used to pay for tuition at out-

of-state and private colleges. Some states offer tax benefits associated with these plans.

Con: State residency requirements. Some plans have restrictions on transfers to another child. The money is tied up until the child

starts college.

Education Savings Account

Open an account with any bank, broker, or mutual fundmuch like retirement savings.

Pro: Can be used for college or any educational expenses K-12including books, private school tuition, computers, and tutors. Lets

you pick your own investments.

Con: Limited to $2,000/year per child. Tax benefits for some plans phase out for some families making more than $95,000. May temptyou to spend before your childs college years.

Cash Back

Buy selected goods with a registered credit card and get one to ten percent cash back for a college savings account. Upromise,EdExpress.com, Babymint.com and MBNA Fidelity credit cards offer such programs.

Pro: Save while you spend. Average annual savings range from fifty to five hundred dollars. Registered friends can direct their

earnings to your account.

Con: Limited dollar value. Fewer investment options. May tempt you to chase rebates and eat up savings you could put into your childs



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account.

Roth and Traditional IRAs

Tax laws now let you take money from these retirement accounts to pay for college without penalty. You can open IRA accounts at any

bank or investment agency.

Pro: Some experts recommend saving for retirement or a home before saving for college. This option allows you to save for both and

choose how to spend later. You can pick your own investments.

Con: Limited to $5,000 a year per person if you are forty-nine or younger in 2008. Some restrictions apply. May confuse your retirement

planning your retirement fund may not attract contributions from family members.



12/17

Set Aside Twenty-five Dollars a Month for CollegeWithout Raiding the Sofa Cushions

Though it is hard to predict exactly what the cost of your childs college education will be, you can commit now to saving something

anythingto help pay for it. The key is to make a plan and stick with it. Even the most modest amount of money saved regularly and

consistently can grow into an important source of financial aid for school. Plus, setting up a college saving program shows your child

that you expect him or her to go to college and that you believe college student financial aid is a goal worth working toward.

Why twenty-five dollars? Many 529 college savings plans allow people to begin investing with only twenty-five dollars a month, so

thats a good starting place. Where will that twenty-five dollars come from? Here are some ideas.

Change You Can Believe In

Start a coin jar and ask everyone in the family to empty their pockets and/or coin purses into it at the end of the day (twenty-five dollars

a month is about eighty-three cents a day). One way to make sure you will have coins to contribute is always pay with paper money

and never use change. That way you will get change back from every transaction.

Bank on Coupon Savings

When you use coupons to reduce your grocery bill, dont just congratulate yourself on the money you saved. Take that amount (its

usually listed at the end of the grocery bill) and put it aside. Coupon money will add up quickly.

Create a Game

As a family, come up with ideas for making saving fun. For instance, every time a letter from a college arrives, toss a dollar into thekitty. When the college is on your childs dream list, increase the amount to five dollars. When your child brings home good grades ona report card, dont pay him or her for every A or B. Pay the college fund instead.

Skip the Vending Machines

If you typically hit the vending machine for an afternoon soda or candy bar, start bringing those treats from home. Vending machine soft

drinks can cost a dollar or more a twelve-pack of soda for four dollars works out to thirty-three cents a can. Ditto for candy bars, chips,

and cookies. Pack your own and earmark the savings for college.

Rethink Your Lunch Plans

If you eat lunch out every day, cut back even one day to save an average of seven dollars a week. When you do eat out, order water

instead of soda. Youll save nearly two dollars.

Get to Know Your Library

Libraries have more than books. You can borrow videos, DVDs, even video games for a lot less money than youd spend at the corner

video store. Most libraries also carry magazines if they carry your favorite, you can cancel your subscription and send that money to the

college fund.



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Review Your Bills

Are you paying for things you dont use? Do you need call waiting and caller ID on your phone? Do you need your phone? (Many

people are giving up their land lines and making their cell phone their main line.) Are you paying for premium cable channels that you

never watch? Will bundling your phone and Internet cost you less than paying for them separately? Is your cell phone plan the most

cost effective choice for your family? Can you read the daily newspaper online instead of paying for a subscription? Take the time to

ask questions like these, and crunch the numbers to discover where a few extras dollars may be hiding each month.

Beat the Budget

If you budgeted one hundred fifty dollars for groceries and you spent only one hundred forty-six, put that four dollar savings into thecollege fund. If you figured it would take forty dollars to fill up the car and it only took thirty-three dollars, put that seven dollars in the

college fund.

Share Your Good Fortune

When you receive unexpected money, such as a rebate, refund, or bonus, split it between yourself and the college fund. Encourageyour child to do the same with birthday and holiday money.

For more money-saving ideas, sign up for Michele Singletarys weekly personal finance e-newsletter.

Do an online search for money saving tips and explore Web sites like these:

The Simple DollarThe Dollar Stretcher

Better Budgeting

Money-Saving Mom

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/http://www.betterbudgeting.com/http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfmhttp://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/02/06/little-steps-100-great-tips-for-saving-money-for-those-just-getting-started/http://www.michellesingletary.com/newsletter/default.html


14/17

Know How Much to Save for CollegeUse a College Savings Calculator

If youre not sure what kind of financial goals to set to fund your childs college education, a college saving calculator, such as this one

on the TIAA-CREF Web site, can help as you think about saving money for college.

Information Youll Need before You Start

l Cost of tuition for one year of college today : If youre not sure where your child might go to school, simply pick a public four-

year college in your state and check its Web site for its annual tuition.

l Tuition inflation rate: This calculator sets a default rate of six percent. Depending on the school, the area of the country, and

the current economy, this figure could be between two and eight percent.l Years to save before college: Assume your child will start college at eighteen, and subtract his or her current age to arrive at

this number.

l Initial savings: the amount of money you already have set aside for college

l Contribution amount: If you have a dollar amount youd like to contribute monthly, put it in here. You can change the amount to

see how the totals change on the calculator.

l Assumed rate of return: This calculator sets a default rate of six percent.

What the Calculator Will Tell You

l What four years of college will cost by the time your child attends

l How much money your savings plan will have earned by that time

l Your savings shortfall

l What you would need to do to make up the difference, either as a lump sum, additional monthly contributions, or additionalyearly contributions

Keep in mind that most students do not pay full price for college (see The Real Cost of College). Note: This exercise focuses on

tuition only. College costs usually include room and board, books, and other costs.

Putting It All Together: Three Examples

1. Aaron and Julie have a new daughter, Alicia. They want to open a 529 college savings plan for her with the hope that she will attend

Big State University in eighteen years. They already have five hundred dollars to open up an account. They are not sure how much to

invest monthly, but think that fifty dollars a month sounds reasonable. Lets see:

l Todays tuition at Big State U: $9,000l Tuition inflation rate: 6 percent

l Years to save before college: 18

l Initial savings: $500

l Monthly contributions: $50

l Rate of return: 6 percent

According to the calculator, in eighteen years, four years at Big State University will cost $112,380, or about $25,689 per year. Aaron

and Julies 529 Plan will have $20,567, not quite enough to cover one years tuition. If they set their monthly contributions at $100 per

month, they will have $40,550, enough to cover all of Alicias first year of school and $14,800 of her second year. To fully fund Alicias

http://www.tiaa-cref.org/calcs/tuition/calculator.html


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college tuition, they would need to set aside $265 per month.

2. Phil and LaDonna have a ten-year-old son, Ty. They haven't really thought much about college, but now that Ty is approaching

middle school, they think they should invest something toward his college education. They plan to start with the thousand dollars they

received as a federal tax refund, and then deposit one hundred fifty dollars a month in a 529 plan. Will that work? Heres how the

numbers work out:

l Todays tuition at Big State U: $9,000

l Tuition inflation rate: 6 percent


l Initial savings: $1,000

l Monthly contributions: $150l Rate of return: 6 percent

According to the calculator, in eight years, four years at Big State University will cost $62,752, or $14,345 per year. By investing one

hundred fifty dollars a month, Phil and LaDonna will have saved $20,321, enough to pay for one full year and part of a second. If they

were to invest $265 a month (what Aaron and Julie need to invest to fully fund their childs education), they would have $35,609,

enough to pay for about 2 1/2 years of college. To fully fund Tys college education, Phil and LaDonna will have to invest $455 per

month.

3. James and Elise have a fifteen-year-old daughter, Mandy, who just informed them that she wants to go to Big State University in

three years. James and Elise have never really thought much about paying for college. Mandy is a smart girl, but theyre not sure how

much she might get in scholarships. They decide to start putting something away but arent sure how much good it will do. Here are

the numbers:

l Todays tuition at Big State U: $9,000

l Tuition inflation rate: 6 percent


l Initial savings: $500

l Monthly contributions: $200

l Rate of return: 6 percent

According to the calculator, in three years, four years at Big State University will $46,892, or $12,044 per year. By investing $200 per

month, James and Elise will be able to pay $8,482 towards Mandys first year of college. If they invest $455 per month (what Phil and

LaDonna need to invest to fully fund their childs education), they will have $19,007, enough to pay for all of Mandys first year and

about two-thirds of her second year. To fully fund her education, they will need to invest a whopping $1,073 per month.

These examples illustrate the benefits of investing early for your childs college education. But if you havent started saving yet, does

that mean you shouldnt? Should James and Elise even bother if all they can put aside is two hundred dollars a month? Absolutely.

The $8,482 they save is $8,482 they wont have to borrow and pay back later. Saving is always worthwhile.

You may wonder if saving now will cut your childs financial aid later. A little for some families, but youre still better off having moneythan not, just as youre better off earning wages than not despite income taxes. Using todays aid formula, a low- or middle-income

family could lose up to five dollars in aid for every one hundred dollars extra they saved in any of the current college savings tools.



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Choose Smarter Baby Toys and Toddler GamesBryan Taylor

It started with one or two. But now theyre everywhere: on the couch and under it, piling up in corners, spreading across the floor and

multiplying like rabbits.

Infant Activity and Baby Toys Mix Well

The first toys and games looked cute, but at our place the time has come to thin out juniors growing stock of playthings. Well rotate

some into storage and bring them back out as a surprise in a few months others well give away. All that clutter only gets in the way of

encouraging other baby activities. But if youre smarter than we are, youll use some of the following guidelines to pick smarter toys

from the start using these four criteria.

Safety: Toys Can Be Dangerous

A first rule of toys for infant babies and toddlers should be "do no harm" toy related accidents are responsible for more than 100,000

injuries each year. Babies can make a toy of almost anything, but a few things should be out of bounds. Make sure its sturdy anddoesnt have chipping paint, sharp edges, breakable parts or strings longer than six inches, which can cause strangulation. And to

avoid choking dont let baby have anything with removable parts smaller than his fist. Age guidelines can also help you judge a toys

safety for your child, but note that older toys may not meet current safety standards.

Age

Toys from the store will usually tell you what age range theyre for, but even if its not listed you can get some idea yourself by how yourchild interacts with the gizmo. The goal is to find toys that wont bore him on the one hand or be too complex for him to handle on the

other.

Sense

As baby moves toward her first birthday, watch for toys that will help her take baby steps forward in trying out new skills and new

senses. Try mirrors and mobiles to stimulate sight, a music box for hearing, a cradle gym for touch and chewable toys for taste. As you

try new things shell learn how to make her hands work and to understand differences in colors, shapes, sounds and ideas like cause

and effect.

Family Home Activities Are Important Too

The magic of play doesnt have to come from toys you buy or from the latest product claiming to make your baby smarter. It comes

from everyday interactions that help your child build life skillsthings like confidence, curiosity, cooperation and communication. In the

end, your childs favorite toy might be YOU!

Bryan Taylor is President of EduGuide and the proud father of two young children.



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Due to the dynamic nature of our quizzes, they are only available on the web. Follow the addresses below to take a quiz on our

website.

Do We Have a College-going Culture in Our Home?

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Prepare My Baby Toddler for College