Back to School Tips

Ten stress-reducing tips for back to school:

• 1. Get your child to bed earlier and up earlier 
• 2. Try to meet the new teacher or see the classroom 
• 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

Basic Transportation Safety Tips

Bus Riders:

• 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 Riders:

• 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 Riders:

• 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

Backpack Comfort and Safety Tip

Look for a backpack with wide padded shoulder straps and a padded back or you could also consider a rolling backpack — unless your child has stairs to navigate or will be trudging through a lot of snow. Try to pack light and use all the compartments to help evenly distribute the weight. Back packs should not weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child's body weight.