Today’s our first day of school, and two questions come to mind. Where did summer go? And why, why, why are there no seat belts on school buses!?!

When I was a little kid, my parents weren’t required by law to strap me into a car seat, but over the years we’ve learned a lot about safety. Whenever I get into a car I always buckle up, and my kids are properly restrained as well. So if I’m a criminal if I don’t buckle up my kids in the car, how does the school district get off? Why does the danger end when they climb the steps of the big, yellow school bus? I don’t get it.

I’ve done a little reading on the subject, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that school buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. Tragically, in the U.S. more than 42,000 people die in traffic crashes every year, and on average, six school age children die in school bus crashes. A 2002 report by the National Academy of Sciences looked at fatalities that occurred as kids were transported to and from school and the report says that only 2 percent are associated with official school transportation, compared to 22 percent due to walking/bicycling to or from school, and 75 percent from passenger car transportation to or from school. In fact, statistics show that the area around (outside) the bus is far more dangerous than being inside the bus, so be sure your kids know how to stay safe around the bus.

Still, I find these statistics only somewhat reassuring. I noticed that these reports are only addressing fatalities in school buses and ignoring injury. Maybe I have a wild imagination, but I would expect that in the event of a crash, those little children fly around in the bus like popcorn!

If school bus safety bothers you like it bothers me, do what I did and contact your elected officials and let them know that you think it’s an important issue.

I had lunch with a special friend recently. She's a little over three and a half feet tall, loves French fries, recess and all things pink. She also loves her mom, who hasn't seen her in a long time. Her mom's not just been absent physically though. Her dad, who's struggling to pay the afterschool program bills, hasn't seen a child support payment from Mom in a long time either.

If your child's other parent isn't paying child support, there are things that the government can do to help try to make the situation right. USA.gov's section on child support features links to basic information sources for frequently asked questions about child support enforcement and has contact information for your state's child support enforcement program.

The Handbook on Child Support Enforcement (CSE) details the process you'll go through with your state CSE program if you're beginning the process of seeking child support. If your child's other parent is missing, your state CSE program can use the resources of the US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Child Support Enforcement to trace that parent, whether he or she is across the country or outside the US, incarcerated or deployed in the military.

Once the parent has been found and paternity has been proven, a support order will be established, spelling out exactly how much the non-custodial parent is to pay each month for healthcare and other support for your child. The way this dollar amount is calculated varies from state to state.

The biggest challenge a lot of single parents run into is getting those monthly support payments in the right amount and on schedule. If your child's other parent has stopped paying or skips payments, CSE programs have a variety of ways to enforce the support order and get that money for your child. This could include garnishing the non-paying parent's wages, freezing bank accounts, offsetting federal income tax refunds or economic stimulus payments, denying a passport, contacting credit bureaus, suspending a driver's license, and putting liens on or seizing and selling personal property. Non-payment could also result in jail time for that parent.

Of course, not every non-custodial parent is trying to get out of supporting his or her children. If you're the parent ordered to pay child support, there are also guidelines to help you know your role, rights and responsibilities in caring for your child financially.

Here in D.C. it’s 75 degrees and sunny, which can mean just one thing. Soon, it will be 90 degrees and so humid I’ll need SCUBA equipment to breathe. I might not be thrilled by this prospect, but the kids in my life can’t wait. Summer for them means trips to the beach, lazy days playing pick-up football, and extended bedtimes. In another year or two, it might also mean a summer job, possibly a government job.

So, for those of you who have kids 13 and older, I've gathered together some helpful resources. The U.S. Department of Labor provides specific information for parents about the rules governing youth labor. For example, there are special rules regarding the minimum wage for young workers. There are also time restrictions. Generally, kids 14-15 can work a full 40 hour-week during non-school weeks, but only 18 hours during a school week. There are no federal time restrictions for kids over the age of 16, but you should check your state laws because some provide stricter guidelines. There are different rules for kids whose parents own their own business or farm.

Even if your kids aren’t quite old enough to have a summer job, they can begin investigating careers. Using the Web, you can find information about which industries are growing, as well as match students’ interests with possible career options.

Another terrific idea for kids during the summer is volunteer work, which can provide new skills and foster a sense of civic involvement. In addition, colleges are often impressed by applicants who volunteer their time to help others. Many government agencies have volunteer opportunities.

Do you have any creative ideas for great summer jobs?

If you're in an office today, you might notice some new faces around the place. Either you really are getting older and the interns are getting younger or your office is participating in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Originally created as Take Our Daughters to Work Day back in 1993 by the Ms. Foundation, girls and boys are both encouraged to head to work today with a parent or other significant adult in their lives. It's not just a free pass from a day at school though; it's a chance for kids to get exposed to workplace culture and to start thinking about career opportunities.

This got me wondering about what career-related links there were on Kids.gov. Turns out, there are a lot. Kids.gov is the government's official web portal for kids, with links to more than 1,200 family-friendly sites. The content is divided into two age groups for kids: K-5th grade and 6th-8th grade. Here's a taste of some of the fun, career-related stuff I found in each age group:
 

K - 5th Grade

Most elementary school kids I know love cats and dogs and horses. And that love could translate later into a career as a vet. The American Veterinary Medical Association's animated web site for kids explains the day to day work of a vet and the education that goes into getting a degree in veterinary medicine.

Outer space is always a fascination for kids, as they look at the stars and dream of being astronauts. But not all jobs related to space involve going into space. Using animated stories, NASA's Space Place web site introduces kids to space-related careers including engineering and mapping the stars as an astronomer.

6th - 8th Grade

Mystery...intrigue...maybe the life of an FBI agent who investigates spies is in your kid's future. With the games and quizzes on the FBI's Spy Page, middle schoolers can learn how the FBI uncovers spy tricks and deciphers code words.

Is your kid a good problem solver who loves taking thing apart to find out how they work? They may be perfect for a career as a mechanic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' page on auto mechanics describes the education that goes into becoming a mechanic and their earning potential, whether they work for themselves, a service station or a car dealer.

If I'd had Kids.gov when I was a kid, I might not have gone around telling everybody that I was going to grow up to be a glockenspiel-playing ballerina/hairdresser. None of those things panned out, but that’s ok; being a blogging bureaucrat is a pretty good gig.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Amongst my group of friends, I am the oddball. This has a little to do with my taste in music, but more so that I am not a teacher. While it's not ENTIRELY the case, it sure seems like all of my friends are teachers.

My best friend commands a tribe of 5th graders. My high school partner in crime teaches middle school English (a feat that deserves a medal—battling the awkward braces years and all). My college accomplice? 3rd grade. Next door neighbor/sandbox buddy? She's also holding down the 5th grade. And finally, my roommate—kindergarten and first grade.

Because of these relationships, I am privy to the daily trials and tribulations that come with life when one educates the youth of America. Some of my favorites?

• Weekly battles to secure the "best" times on the lamination machine user schedule.
• Highly contested space on hallway bulletin boards

I had little insight or potential solutions to problems of this realm until recently.

Due to the frigid weather we've been experiencing lately, the kids have been denied their typical outdoor recess. 25+ kids trapped inside for playtime is taking years off my poor roommate's life.

Finally able to help her out, I talked to her about Kids.gov. This super cool site is filled with games and activities—perfect for indoor fun. All of the 1,300 links are federally approved, so parents and educators can be assured they are safe and appropriate. It also offers homework help. I wish I had the "Ask Dr. Math" site when I was a kid. Could have saved my parents and sister a few headaches (or gray hairs)!

Besides fun and educational information for kids, Kids.gov has a full section specifically for teachers. It has tons of lesson plans, activity ideas, and helpful tools for the classroom.

Once they have the kids entertained, teachers can also find useful links at USA.gov. It's a great resource to mix up straight from textbook lessons, or add some spice to a topic that can be a bit mundane. Like free stuff? Check out the cool posters, printed materials, and lesson plans from Pueblo.

Go forth and mold those young minds!