Ten stress-reductions tips for back to school

Make some adjustments now, and you'll have a calmer household and a more focused child when the school bell finally rings. Here are 10 tips to get you started:

1. Get your child to bed earlier — and up earlier — a few days before school starts to get used to the new routine
   
   
2. Try to meet the new teacher or see the classroom before the first day
   
   
3. Discuss the upcoming school year expectations with your child — especially any concerns your child might have
   
   
4. Shop for school supplies — even if the teacher makes special requests, you know you'll need pencils, pens, notebooks, and so on
   
   
5. Lay out clothing, money, backpacks, car keys, etc. the night before
   
   
6. Let your child have a say in clothing, lunches, and other small decisions
   
   
7. Practice your transportation route to avoid a mad dash to the car or bus stop
   
   
8. Prepare lunches the night before and select items for a simple, nourishing breakfast so no one bolts off with an empty stomach
   
   
9. Keep a small stash of cash handy for those days when your child asks for project or lunch money at the last minute
   
   
10. Make time each day to talk about your child's day and help him or her get into a routine of homework and planning for upcoming activities
    
    

Start the year off safe

First off, make sure your child has the necessary immunizations and physicals required for his or her age and grade. Of course, if your child is playing a sport, you'll probably need a physical certificate as well. Check with the school and schedule any doctor's appointments before the end of summer. You'll beat the rush and save yourself a lot of time and hassle.

No matter how your child gets to school — by bus, car, bike, or foot — keep these basic transportation safety tips in mind.

Bus

• Don't stand too close to the curb or in the street
  
  
• Wait for the bus to stop completely before going toward it
  
  
• Make sure no other traffic is coming before crossing to the bus
  
  
• Don't stand or move around on the bus
  
  
• Make sure the bus driver can see you at all times
  
  

Car

• Insist that all passengers buckle up or ride in age-appropriate safety or booster seats
  
  
• Make all children under 13 years of age ride in the back seat
  
  
• Limit your teen driver's number of passengers and enforce the "no eating, drinking, or talking on cell phones" rule while driving
  
  

Bike

• Always wear a helmet
  
  
• Ride on the ride side of the road, in the same direction as traffic
  
  
• Use hand signals
  
  
• Obey traffic lights and stop signs
  
  
• Wear brightly colored clothing for extra visibility
  
  
• Lock the bike securely while at school
  
  

On foot

• Make sure the route is safe, with a trained crossing guard at every intersection
  
  
• Because younger children may not be as cautious as they should be, think carefully about when your child is ready to walk to school without an adult
  
  
• Brightly colored clothing will make you child more visible to drivers
  
  

Pack "the back" for comfort and safety

No safety tips would be complete without a mention of those increasingly heavy backpacks every child totes. To help ease the strain on your child's back, look for a backpack with wide padded shoulder straps and a padded back. You could also consider a rolling backpack — unless your child has stairs to navigate or will be trudging through a lot of snow. Make sure to pack light and use all the compartments to evenly distribute the weight. Back packs should not weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child's body weight.

Bottom line:

With a little advance planning and some common-sense safety rules, you and your child can ease into a safe, productive school year.

Additional resources:

KidSource online: "Back to School Time"

American Academy of Pediatrics: "Back to School Tips"

Familyresource.com: "Eleven Must Do's in Preventing Back to School Stress"