Kids are
flocking back to school as parents are asking, “What can we do to get our children
ready for another year of reading, writing, and math.

Here’s a common
sense checklist for parents and children to get back on track for school.

Getting
to and from school

Walking or
riding a bike to school is an excellent way for your child to keep fit. Figure
out the safest route he will follow if he walks to school. Choose the most
direct way with intersections that have crossing guards. If the school is
too far away, make sure you have a carpool in place with drivers you trust.

School
Supplies

Kids need a
variety of supplies depending on the classes they take. Permitting your child
to choose his own supplies increases his excitement about returning to school.

I suggest
sharpened pencils, erasers, a 3-ring notebook, 3-holed paper, a lunch box, and
backpack.

Keep the backpack small. If a student has
a huge backpack, he will fill it. Children carrying around twenty-five pounds
of school supplies on their backs are a chiropractic nightmare.

You can find
excellent deals at your local business supply stores. There are plenty of
Staples, my personal favorite, in the Los Angeles area. You’ll be buying in
quantity, so store what your child doesn’t need in September for December or
May.

Please avoid
buying character do-dads that go on the end of pencils, character erasers, and
pencil sharpeners. Too many children use these utensils as toys, which
distracts from the daily lessons.

Preparing
for Homework

Establish an
expectation (on day one) that homework needs to be done. This is top priority.

Many schools give students a planner to record daily homework assignments and
special events. Look to make sure your child has a planner and uses it. A
parent’s job is to check it daily to ensure the child is accountable. Take this
one step further and model the behavior. Show your planner and discuss with
your child how you keep your schedule and projects in order and presented on
time.

Organization is
the key. Students need to organize their work into subject matter, due dates,
and long term projects. Divide classes into different colored folders—red for
Math, green for English, and purple for History. The inside pockets of the
folder can organize work in progress, completed assignments, and handouts.

School
Clothes

Before you head
to the department stores, check your school’s dress code. Many schools ban
suggestive clothing, baggy pants, or open toed shoes and spaghetti strapped
tops. Sometimes students will hide inappropriate clothing under a bulky
sweatshirt. Inspect your child’s clothes before he leaves the house to avoid a
trip to the vice-principal’s office.

Immunizations

State of California has regulations regarding
immunizations. All kindergarten children must have their second MMR
(immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella) and completed or started
their Hepatitis B series. All seventh graders need to have completed or started
their Hepatitis B series.

Establish
Rituals

Kids need
parameters, so set a schedule. For example, homework should be done prior to
dinner. After dishes are stacked away, spend time with your children. Check
their homework, then click off the TV and play games, read together, or just
sit around the fireplace and chat. Share in the school experience by discussing
topics of study at the dinner table. Find something to praise your child about
so you set him up to get your attention in positive ways.

Make sure your
child gets the shut-eye he needs. Without the proper sleep, children will show
short term memory problems, become hyperactive, irritable, lack attentiveness,
show delayed response time, and could bring home poor grades. To avoid these
problems, make sure your 6 to 9-year-old gets ten hours of sleep; 10 to 12-
year-old children need at least nine hours of rest, and your teen should snooze
at least eight to nine hours per night.

Wake up before
the kids and make sure they get a healthy breakfast. Children should eat a
breakfast including fruit, healthy cereal with low fat milk. Whole wheat toast,
peanut butter, fresh juice, and eggs will give children energy to focus on
their studies and lead to physical and emotional well-being. Remember,
breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Before your
child heads out the door, inquire about what he’ll be doing in class. This
forces him to focus on the previous day’s work so his mind is ready for his new
lessons. Pack him a healthy lunch with enough nutrition to keep him going
throughout the day.

Goal
Setting

Before school
starts, sit down with your child and brainstorm goals he may like to achieve
this year. Don’t emphasize getting A’s; emphasize progress, diligence, and
engagement in the learning process.

Before those
school bells ring, go through the checklist to ensure your child has a happy,
rewarding, and enriching school year.