Preparing for school
Play school with your children. Let them be the teachers and you be the student. Talk about their concerns.
Set a realistic bedtime a few weeks before school begins.
Before the first day of school, figure out how long it will take for everyone to leave the house on time. Practice the route to school or the bus stop. Review bus rules.
Attend back-to-school events, such as meet-and-greet with teachers.
First-day jitters
Tell your child to pay close attention to class rules to know what’s allowed and what’s not.
Remind your children to make new friends and 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.
Student tips
Arrange to visit your new school before classes begin.
Get a school map and study it before school starts. Keep it in your backpack until you’re familiar with your new surroundings.
Pack your backpack the night before to prevent the morning panic when you can’t find your homework or lunchbox.
Take an extra dollar or two for emergencies.
Bring a book or magazine to read on the bus.
Write down important information, such as your locker combination and when lunch starts.
Sources: Kidshealth.org; Kiddie Academy, a national child care education company.
—The Dallas Morning News
