BEFORE THE FIRST DAY
Get children excited: Get your kids ready for school by making back-to-school shopping a family affair.
Play school: Gather supplies and play school with your children. Let them be the teachers and you be the student. This is a great time to talk about their concerns.
Establish a schedule: A few weeks before school begins, set a realistic bedtime to allow children to get the recommended 10 to 12 hours of sleep.
Practice the morning routine: Before the first day of school, figure out how long it will take for everyone to get out of the house on time. Practice the route if your children walk to school, or show them where to catch the bus. Review bus rules.
Back-to- school activities: Attend back-to-school events, such as meet-and-greet with teachers.
Tell your child to pay close attention to class rules to know what’s allowed and what’s not.
Remind your children that they will already know many classmates, but it’s a great day to make new friends. Tell them to say “hello” to kids they know and don’t know.
In middle school, students might move from classroom to classroom for every subject. Tell your kids to write in their notebooks where their seats are so they don’t forget.
Eat a healthy breakfast.
Tuck an extra dollar or two in your backpack for emergencies, such as forgetting your lunch money.
Bring a book or magazine to read on the bus.
Wear an outfit you like.
Pack your backpack the night before to prevent the morning panic when you can’t find your homework or lunchbox.
Write notes to remember important information, such as your locker combination and when lunch starts.
Arrange to visit your new school before classes begin.
Get a school map, if one is offered, and study it before school starts. Keep it in your backpack until you’re familiar with your new surroundings.
SOURCES: Kidshealth.org; Kiddie Academy, a national child care education company