This can probably be termed the year of “Risk Mitigation” across all facets of Loudoun and Northern Virginia family life – or any other metropolitan area for that matter. Everything seems a bit fragile, teetering on the brink of either further disaster, or noticeable and persistent improvement. Sort of a two steps ahead, one and three-quarters back existence, week-to-week, for most busy Northern Virginia families. There are many opportunities for self-improvement and success peering through the cracks and pushing through the rubble of the past several years’ economy, though seemingly at the easy peril of destructive national or community events and the incessant, overbearing new media resonance that follows.

It’s a good time to focus on family risk mitigation, protecting status quo and the small achievements that lay the groundwork for longer-term success.

In the IT industry, especially in the Government (as stewards of public investment), risk mitigation is part and parcel of every large implementation. IT project managers, engineers and investors make most plans and decisions first with an eye towards avoiding problems or breaches in security, and second with actual delivery of results in mind. Following standard methods, it’s safe, careful and ensures some level of success – though at some expense in speed, cost, creativity, experimentation and other factors entrepreneurs tend to find exciting.

Our own family risk mitigation plans for this year got a good kick-start, with the shift of one full-time employement location from downtown D.C. out to Tysons Corner. While still a longish commute from Loudoun (right at the DC area’s average commute time around 35 minutes), this location change alone resulted in a long list of actual risk reductions; less chances for involvment in accidents, being away from the center of global illwill towards US policies, avoidance of mass transit incidents, fewer opportunities for auto failure or running out of gas, less sedentary time with accompanying bladder strain and mental exasperation…the list is long. I’ll categorize this risk mitigation step in “transportation” – with others as follows (with preferred examples of where to find help) in categories including safety, health and material assets.

All sorts of safety measures are appropriate to review this year, especially if attention has lapsed…from personal and family safety at home, to safety in public and on the Internet. Review the state of of your home security systems and sensors (like smoke detectors), and check out interesting products like window alarm screens. Internet safety is a huge issue, especially for the targeted (i.e. children and the elderly); take a close look at products and services like McGruff SafeGuard, Mobile-Spy and Sprint’s Mobile Phone GPS Family Locater.

Risk mitigation practices for your family’s health are easy to understand, if hard to actually implement – but following up on the basics like dental services, new weight loss programs and exercise routines (even while doing the housework) are essential. More significant attention is necessary to mental health therapy and aging issues – firstSTREET in particular offers some unique healthy living products for the aging baby boomer set. Consistent awareness and attention to your student’s tutoring and educational coaching needs can also fall in the category of health and self-improvement.

Your assets, whether “hard” (like your house) or “soft” (like your finances and relationships) deserve renewed attention in terms of risk mitigation – things like investigating a new roof, cleaning your home or business air ducts, fixing the crack in your car’s windshield glass or simply using some local handyman or home repair services around the house can go a long way towards prevention of future unreasonable costs and aggravation. Obviously long-term upkeep for your car is in order, or perhaps the inner mechanic in you is ready for a turn at the local do it yourself auto maintenance shop.

These are just a few examples within broad categories that deserve renewed, focused attention this year for you and your family – to mitigate and possibly dramatically reduce risks that may stall the long-awaited recovery of your household’s collective worth, stability and productivity.

Quality education for our children provides a foundation for lifelong learning and success. Student coaching, tutoring and test prep services can be an essential component in delivering successful educational programs. Many pupils struggle with organization, time management and study skills, and without proper coaching, they can fall behind. Thankfully it’s never too late to help them find an approach that works, and now is the perfect time to start.

On sidewalks throughout Northern Virginia and the Washington D.C. metro area, shopping bags are being replaced by backpacks as students wrap up their holiday break and return to classrooms for the second half of the school year. The New Year also brings the perfect opportunity for a new start—a new approach—to test prep and studying. In the fiercely competitive systems of Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and the surrounding areas, it’s particularly important that students have the skills required to excel. Educational Connections Inc. (EC) tutoring helps build those skills and the confidence required to implement them.

EC’s trademarked in-home student coaching, test prep and tutoring services have helped thousands of local students from kindergarten through high school. With over a decade of experience tutoring, EC identifies three key areas that are imperative for student growth—and the tactics to ensure proper development.

• Organization: Students who are chronically disorganized tend to feel overwhelmed and thus avoid homework and procrastinate studying. Disorganization also makes it easier to make careless mistakes and harder to retain valuable information. Student coaching helps such pupils create and implement a system that keeps all school materials, binders, bags and lockers organized and clear. Coaching also helps students prioritize daily homework assignments and other tasks so they can better achieve their educational goals. Tutoring enables challenged students to set up routines and build structures that guide them, and to use tools like assignment notebooks for support.
• Time Management: Students are incredibly busy. Between extra-curricular activities, complicated social lives and demanding school days, academic demands can easily fall through the cracks. In some cases, looking at bigger projects becomes too overwhelming and students don’t know how to manage the various steps. Student coaching helps pupils complete long-term projects by breaking them down into manageable chunks, and it teaches them to schedule homework time in a realistic manner. Tutoring helps students identify what time of day and environments are ideal for them. Other tactics include tackling difficult subjects first, taking breaks, and studying in several smaller time blocks instead of diving into overwhelmingly long sessions.
• Studying & Test Prep: Like it or not, scores matter. A lot. Course and exam grades heavily influence a student’s future, so if he or she struggles with test prep, the consequences can be dire. Student coaching provides valuable studying and test-taking skills, including memory techniques, note-taking that reinforces lessons, and active reading strategies.

Students who struggle are often bright and capable. With tutoring and test prep, their true potential is revealed.

For additional assistance and information on helping your child or student achieve their academic goals, check out these additional Northern Virginia tutoring and test prep articles from Fairfax’s own Ann Dolin M.ED. and Educational Connections, on “How to Help with Math“, “Calming the Homework Rush“, and many others.