Back to school tips for kids and parents

Safe social networking. Online social networks can be great virtual gathering places for teens and tweens, but also pose some real risks. We enlisted Kathy Sena, Consumer Reports' social media reporter, for some tips to help keep your kids safe while they're texting, tweeting and tagging. Here are 8 tips to protect your child on social networks.

Best appliances for back to school. The "dorm-room refrigerator" moniker shows how closely compact refrigerators have become identified with college life, but only some of the models we tested made the grade. Only two refrigerators we tested had freezer sections that were able to keep frozen confections from turning to mush, and one model flunked basic refrigeration. Learn more about the best appliances for back-to-school.

Best wheels for teen drivers. When shopping for a car for that young driver, look for ones with advanced safety features such as electronic stability control and curtain airbags as well as good crash-test results. Learn more about the best cars for young drivers.

Learn more about backpacks, back to school clothes, and more in our Back-to-school Guide.