Back to School in Lincoln

The calendar is reading “August”, which means it’s nearly time to head back into the classrooms. For many, this time of year signifies a lot more than simply “back to school”. Practice for fall sports is starting back up, the city will grow with new and returning college students, and it may even be the time of year that you schedule your annual appointments with health professionals. If you’re wondering where to go to get everything checked off of your back to school to-do list, we’ve got you covered! From elementary school shopping to college necessities, we encourage you to check out these awesome local professionals that can help you make a smooth transition from summer vacation to the classroom.

Improved Vision = Improved Grades

Have your children had their eyes checked recently? If it’s been a while, it’s a good idea to get them in to see the optometrist before school begins or not long into the school year. If your child’s vision has changed, it can affect how well they perform in school. To ensure that your children’s vision needs have been met and their eyes are healthy, we recommend visiting Clear Vision Eye Care (visionsource-yourclearvision.com). Since 2008, Clear Vision Eye Care has served as a dedicated and caring provider of quality vision services to Lincoln and the surrounding communities.

“Eighty percent of learning is visual and many visual deficiencies are undetected by a vision screen. Possible signs of a visual deficiency could be squinting, difficulty sitting still or paying attention in school, frustration with academic work, or clumsiness,” explained Dr. Andrew Bateman.

“Furthermore, as many as one in five American school-aged children has an undiagnosed binocular vision impairment. All of us – educators, families, and healthcare providers – should understand that sometimes, reading and other learning problems are actually vision problems,” Dr. Bateman added. “A comprehensive eye exam is essential for any student who struggles with early literacy.”

Along with comprehensive eye care, Dr. Bateman and Dr. Brooke Segerstrom Beall manage a variety of eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration; perform diabetic eye care; manage eye allergies and infections; and now, with the addition of the OptiLight IPL and Lipiflow, are able to specialize in dry eye management and treatment.

“If you had the ability to reduce your child’s eye prescription, would you?” Dr. Bateman asked. “Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common eye condition diagnosed during an eye exam during childhood. We can slow the possible progression and endpoint of your child’s myopia with specialty contact lenses or eye drops. When you visit our website, you will fi nd a ‘Childhood Myopia Risk Survey’ under the Vision Care heading. Fill it out if you would like to learn more!”

Helping You Stay on the Move

We all know that kids are constantly on the go, and there is no slowing down when school starts up again. To help your kids lead this active lifestyle, make sure they are fitted with a great pair of shoes from Lincoln Running Co. (lincrunningcompany.com). The store has been locally owned and operated by the same family since 1976 and is committed to helping the community find the right shoes and gear to be fit and active, whether that’s by running, walking, or just moving in general. Along with shoes, Lincoln Running Co. holds a variety of other helpful products that will encourage your kids to be active this school year.

“Back to school at the Lincoln Running Co. means a lot of cross country runners from all over the state making their way to our store for the right fi t for their sport,” said Ann Ringlein, store manager. “You don’t have to be a cross country runner to want a great fitting athletic shoe, though. Every student heading back to school should get fit just like the cross country runners do. Having the proper shoe for PE classes or walking all over a bigger-than-you’re-used-to college campus can make the difference in loving your situation or not loving it so much.”

Lincoln Running Co. is open every day and is active within Lincoln’s running community. They’ve been named one of the top 50 Best Running Stores in America three times, and though they are proud of that, they are especially proud of their relationship with their customers. Ann and the team at Lincoln Running Co. want to help you find the best shoes and gear for yourself or your active kiddo before the busyness of school begins, so give them a visit today!

Prepping for the Big Game

Some of the items that are essential to your child having a successful school year may be sports-related if they take part in extra-curricular activities. If that’s your child, be sure to stop by our local Play It Again Sports (playitagainsports.com). They’re currently all stocked up on football, volleyball, soccer, golf, and softball gear for kids who are entering their high school season.

“This is also a great time to clean out the closets, ball bags, and garages from last year!” suggested Owner Kyle McMurray. “Bring in your gently-used athletic equipment and get some cash to help pay for your back to school supplies. It’s also a great way to fund the coming year’s sports expenses. We pay cash on the spot for gently-used equipment for almost any sport, and then you can shop the selection we have in-store at well below retail prices.”

Play It Again Sports relies on the Lincoln community for a large portion of their inventory, and their customers have talked about having a pay-it-forward mentality when they bring in their gently-used equipment. Play It Again Sports is grateful to be able to help parents set kids up for their season without having to break the bank at a big-box sports equipment store.

“Signing up for our Fivestars loyalty program is a great way to save for back to school – and year-round,” shared Kyle. “Just use your smartphone to download the Fivestars app and search for ‘Play It Again Sports’. New subscribers are eligible for $5 off their first purchase of $40 or more, and every dollar you spend at Play It Again Sports in Lincoln gets you closer to your next discount! We also send out birthday discounts, store announcements, and special offers. It’s free to join, and like anybody else, standard message and data rates may apply.”

Early Childhood Education

If you are interested in having your child gain the benefits of early childhood education, World of Knowledge Child Development Center and Preschool (worldofknowledgene.com) provides a safe and supportive learning environment for your young children that are not yet of school age. The early learning center has two locations at 8310 Wendell Way and 4001 S 17th St., allowing you to have access to phenomenal childhood development wherever you are at in Lincoln. They focus on a variety of educational skills, including math, science, creativity, music, and literacy, as well as basic life skills, such as motor and social skills, expressing feelings, sharing, caring, and communication. By enrolling your young kiddos at World of Knowledge Child Development Center and Preschool, you will be investing in their future and opening up endless opportunities for a fruitful life.

Make Back to School Shopping Fun

No matter the age you are, going back to school often means it’s time to revamp your wardrobe. For the older students, stop by Charm Boutique & Bar (charmchix.com) to do a little back to school clothes shopping! The clothing boutique is located in the Telegraph District near downtown and features a trendy selection of clothes, accessories, shoes, and more. Students that are 21 or older can “sip ‘n’ shop” when they order a drink from Charm’s full bar that is located right inside the boutique. Even more, Charm offers private, after-hours shopping parties. These parties are a great way to gather all of your friends for a fun and fashionable time as you return back to campus for another school year!

Don’t let this back to school season stress you out! These awesome experts will have you and your children ready for school in no time.