The Emotional Side

Prep work: If your child is making his first trip to school and you sense that he is apprehensive or even downright scared, look for books and videos that can guide you and your child through the unknown. For preschoolers, the video "My First Day" helps anxious children prepare for their first day of school. Great books for soon-to-be kindergarteners include The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing; Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate; and First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg.

Separation anxiety: Give your child a picture of you, or some special item that reminds him of you or of home, to keep in his backpack and look at or touch when he misses you. Also, the routines you set (see above) will give your child reassurance and confidence.

Remember Health and Safety

Getting to school safely: Whether your child walks to school, takes a bus, rides a bike, or gets a ride, make sure both you and your child know the route to the bus stop or how to get to school, and know how to travel it safely.

• On foot: Make sure your child stays on the sidewalk, walks against traffic, and only crosses a street where there is a crossing guard.
  
  
• By bus: The National Safety Council offers these school bus-safety tips: (1) Have a safe place to wait for the bus, away from traffic and the street; (2) Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals that it's okay to approach; (3) Exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus; (4) Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
  
  
• By bike: A helmet is a must. Walk bikes through intersections.
  
  
• In the car: No matter how close you are to school, take the extra few seconds to buckle up your child. "We're full of excuses," says Christer Gustafsson, Senior Safety Engineer for Volvo Cars in Sweden. "But in the end, if we don't belt our children, we're setting them up for injuries or death."

Beat the heat: The first days of school can be hot, and many schools don't have air conditioning. Make sure your child is dressed in cool clothing. Pack a water bottle so your little student can grab a drink throughout the day.

Lunch and snacks, revisited: "During the summer we tend to relax, and that means our eating habits become relaxed as well," says Warshaw, who also is the mother of a school-age child. "The start of the new school year is a perfect time to pull in the reins and set up your kitchen with healthier food choices to promote better eating habits for the whole family." Warshaw suggests that you pre-wash and portion grapes and berries, have dried fruit, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, and sliced red pepper ready to go. "If parents want their kids to eat well, maintain a healthy body weight and help reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases, then they need to set up their kitchen to make this happen," she says.