It’s that time of year again!  Time to send your child back to school.  I encourage you to start thinking now about getting your child ready for that first day.  The preparations you take will make a difference in your child’s success.

One thing you can do now is to help your child establish a bedtime routine that will help him or her to be rested when school starts.  This is important no matter the age of your student.  While school has been out for most of the summer, most children have likely stayed up a bit longer at night while sleeping in later each morning.  Don’t wait until the weekend before school starts to encourage your child to adopt a more school-friendly bedtime schedule.  At least two weeks before school starts, try to get your child to go to bed earlier and to awaken earlier.

Depending on which grade your child is entering, he or she may need a physical exam.  Kentucky law requires students entering kindergarten or sixth grade to have a physical exam before school starts.  In addition, middle school and high school students must have a physical exam if they intend to participate in school sports.  Try to schedule your child’s physical ahead of all other activities that may be happening this summer.

Many schools provide a nutritious breakfast to students.  But if your child won’t be eating breakfast at school, it’s important to encourage him or her to have a nutritious breakfast at home.  It’s the most important meal of the day, because it provides the nutrients that will help your child’s day to be a success.  Studies show that children who eat breakfast do better in school.  Make sure to feed your child healthy breakfast options, avoiding foods that are loaded with sugar.

Likewise, make sure that your child is having a nutritious lunch.  If he or she doesn’t eat the lunch provided by the school, send him or her to school with a healthy mix of protein, whole wheat bread, fruit and vegetables.

Above all else, commit to being engaged in your child’s success in school.  Talk to him or her about what is being taught, the expectations the teacher has, and the things that may be bothering him or her about school.  When your child sees that you care about what he or she does every day, he or she will be more likely to succeed.

I hope your child has a healthy and safe school year!