Steve Ahrens, director of Kiddie Academy of Bothell, an educationally focused child-care provider, knows that a little planning can help get a new school year off to a strong start. The key is to make certain that your child knows what to expect, feels familiar with his school environment and is already on a sleep and meal schedule that revolves around school routines, says Ahrens.

“Preparing children the night before school begins is not the most ideal and effective strategy,” cautions Ahrens. “Parents need to begin transitioning children into the back-to-school routine early enough so they have time to adjust — mentally and physically.”

To help parents get kids back into the school routine, Ahrens offers the following tips:

• Get children excited: Get your children ready for school by making back-to-school shopping a family affair. During a shopping trip for new school supplies, let children cross off items from their lists as they fill the cart. This will keep them involved and excited during the process.

• Play school: Gather books, paper, pencils and crayons and play school with your children. Let them be the teachers and you be the student. As you play, ask your children how they feel about starting school. This is a great time to talk about anxieties or concerns they may have as they start a new school year.

• Practice the morning routine with children: Before the first day of school, figure out how long it will take for everyone to get out of the house on time. If your children will be walking to school, practice the route showing them where to stop and if necessary, how to cross the street. If your children are bus riders, show them where to catch the bus and review the bus rules.

• Back-to-school activities: Find out about back-to-school activities or events, such as a meet-and-greet with teachers. This is a great opportunity to get your children familiar with their school surroundings and comfortable with their new teachers.

• Get your own routine in check: Make sure you know what you need to keep the busy morning schedule running smoothly. To make more time in the morning, consider handling the following at night: setting the coffee maker, preparing lunches and reviewing homework. And, practice your new routine before the stress of the school year really hits.

About Kiddie Academy

For more than 29 years, Kiddie Academy has been a leader in education-based child care. Kiddie Academy is based in Maryland and has 105 academies located in 21 states.