Back-to-School Basics

Some Tips for Stocking Up on Supplies and Setting Up a Homework-Friendly Space

By Jenn Diamond

Sending the kids to school is a job in itself. Multiple trips to the stores—which, by the way, have been stocked with school supplies and the latest back-to-school fashions since July—are required to re-outfit and re-supply students in every grade as they embark on a new year. Clothing, shoes, uniforms, pens, pencils, notebooks, highlighters, staplers, computers, printers, ink—the list goes on and on. So where does one start when preparing their children for a new academic year?

Clothing
Your child is another year older and, likely, another size larger. Before buying anything new, have them try on last year’s school clothes to see what still fits. Often girls can wear skirts and dresses for another year, but it is likely most long pants and long-sleeved shirts will have to be replaced— particularly with grade-schoolers. If you’ll be buying a school uniform, find out from your school whether any local retailers are offering special
deals. If so, you may be able to get a new uniform for your child at a discount. If there are no younger kids in the house, consider donating whatever is too small—even uniforms—to
the Salvation Army or a local battered women’s shelter.

With younger kids, be sure to label everything that your child will likely remove during the day—coats, hats, etc.—to prevent losses and mix-ups at school.

Homework Friendly Space
After the closets and drawers are filled, it’s time to turn your attention to the necessities of classroom assignments and homework. About.com offers a wealth of resources for parents and students (www.backtoschool.about.com), including some recommendations on setting up a work-friendly space, which will hopefully cut down on the excuses for not getting the homework done.

Keeping them out of their bedroom will ensure minimal distractions while providing a helpful resource—a parent or older sibling—should they get stuck and need help. A kitchen table or any large table or desk is ideal for homework, as long supplies are
close at hand. If you’re buying a computer desk that will be used at homework time, look for one that positions the monitor away from the workspace and has a drawer for the keyboard to provide your child with a workspace for papers and books.

Safety Matters
Whether your child is catching the school bus, walking, bicycling or driving to school, make sure you plan and review safety rules and the route to and from school with your child. Let your children know who to call in an emergency if they can’t reach you. If your child is too young to memorize phone numbers, make sure the information is written somewhere in their school supplies or in his or her backpack. When teenagers become drivers, parents should know when they are driving to school and school events, who is with them, and when they are returning. Two out of five deaths among U.S. teens result from motor vehicle crashes, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Just like there are house rules, there should be car rules. Teens should be reminded to wear a seat belt and not drive while listening to loud music or talking on a cellular phone, and many experts agree on limiting the number of occupants in the same car.

Got their shots?
Providing your children’s health information is your first “assignment” for school. Immunizations should be up to date to protect both your own kids and those around them. Any chronic conditions such as asthma or allergies should be brought to the attention of the school nurse and the teacher. Also worth mentioning are any recurring sprains, previous fractures or other orthopedic problems, especially if your child will be active in sports. When medication must be taken during school, speak with the nurse who will administer it and apprise the teacher of any potential side effects.

Daily “Zzzzs”
Sleep not only reinvigorates the body, but the brain, too. In fact, some researchers think that sleep allows the brain to sort information and problem-solve— both critical functions for learning. Most experts agree that children between ages 5 and 12 need 10 to 11 hours of sleep nightly; for teens, nine hours are sufficient.

The goal before school begins is to shift back your child’s biological clock, or natural timing system, that indicates when to go to bed and when to wake up.“ Fortunately, most kids are able to adjust to the school sleep schedule,” says Federico Cerrone, MD, director of the Sleep Center at Overlook Hospital. He advises starting the adjustment about one week before school begins. “Have your child go to sleep a half hour earlier every night, but get up at the same time the next morning.”

Also, keep them from engaging in stimulating activities like playing video games or watching television right before bedtime. Implement relaxing routines that can involve reading or listening to soft music. Children should avoid caffeine, found in soda and chocolate, especially in the late afternoon. Finally, make their bedrooms as dark and cool as possible in the evening and open shades in the morning to let in bright light.

Healthy Eating
Too often breakfast is traded for a few more minutes in bed on school mornings. According to Suzanne Rostler, MS, RD, breakfast jumpstarts metabolism, provides the body and brain with energy, and prevents overeating at snack time. Rostler is director of pediatric and adolescent weight management at Storch Medical Nutrition Center, run by
Kenneth Storch, MD, director of medical nutrition for Atlantic Health System.

Since some kids don’t care for breakfast staples such as cereal and eggs, Rostler suggests non-traditional fare as long as it contains healthy carbohydrates and protein.

“If your child wants the leftover burrito from dinner the night before, go for it. Beans, rice, part-skim mozzarella cheese and whole wheat bread with peanut butter are other good alternatives,” she says. “Teens on the run can grab fruit, yogurt or handful of nuts.” For lunches, parents can pack these same foods, as well as stock up on a growing selection of healthy individual-serving items, such as tuna with crackers. Good snacks are essential, particularly when you also include cakes, cookies and chips containing a lot of sugar and/or fat. Rostler recommends getting kids interested in nutrition, so that if they pack their own lunches (little ones under parental supervision) or buy lunch at school, they’ll be able to play a more active role in their health.

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