Hey parents! Enjoying your summer?



Well, soak up that sun while you can, because school starts real soon. For some, it's as early as next week.



And sure, while you and your kids don't want to be thinking about textbooks and homework just yet, it's best to start getting ready for the new school year now, if you haven't already.



"Losing summer vacation is a major change for [kids]," said Kevin Muirhead, head of head of early childhood and lower schools at Harrisburg Academy. "They go through a grieving process."



To shorten that grieving process, and to ensure that your family is fully prepared to head back into the classroom, we've put together a list of tips that should help keep your anxiety level to a minimum.



Make sure the kids complete any work assigned over the break

Did your children have a book to read or report to write? Be sure it's done before they have to go back.



Early to bed, early to rise.



If your kids have been keeping summer hours — staying up late and sleeping in — you'll need to get them back on the new schedule as soon as possible. About a week or two weeks before the first day of school, wake them up early and have them dressed and ready for breakfast immediately. This way they'll be well rested and know what's expected when that first school bell rings. After all, "school can be just as exhausting as running around and playing all summer," Muirhead said.



Attend orientation.



You could feel confused about what the new school year will bring. But you can avoid it by attending an orientation. "The most important thing parents can do is attend back-to-school orientation," said Chris Baldrige, principal of Shaull Elementary in East Pennsboro Twp. "They'll get a lot of their questions answered then."



Talk to your child



Parents should sit down with their kids and find out what their expectations are and what anxieties they may have, if any, about the new school year. "It's a great time to go over the successes and failures of the past year," Muirhead said.



Use the time to get them excited for school and remind them of what they need to prepare for ("You're going to be getting more homework this year"). You want to keep them actively involved in the process of preparing for school. Listen to their concerns as well. Whether it's peer issues or a fear of book reports, knowing what they're worried about will keep you prepared for the year ahead.



Adjust any medication



If your child is taking daily medication for asthma or another illness you may have to adjust their dosage schedule so it matches the school schedule (i.e. morning, lunch, recess, etc.).



If your children are taking medicine for ADD or ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and have been off their medication for the summer, you will have to reintroduce it few weeks before school starts to regulate themselves, Muirhead said.



Visit the school



"Sometimes if I know a student is going to be very anxious [about school] I have them come in before to have them meet the teacher and support staff," Baldrige said. "That's been very helpful in the past."



Find a classmate



If your child is worried about the new school year, see if you can introduce them to a peer who will be in the same classroom. "With an anxious child it can be really helpful. The shared experience can help," Muirhead said.



Check the school's dress code



Even if your child is attending public school, be sure you know what the rules are regarding outfits so that they don't show up for school dressed inappropriately.



Don't forget to sign and return forms



Baldrige and Muirhead said that one of the biggest things parents forget to do, is to turn in school forms — physicals, dental records, immunization records, etc. — on time. Be sure to fill these out and hand them in as quickly as possible.



Cook a good breakfast



"Research shows that kids who skip breakfast don't do as well in school as those that eat breakfast," said Giant Food Stores nutritionist Sylvia Warner.



But it doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Warner suggests something as simple as cutting whole grain toast into triangles with peanut or almond butter on top and serving it with banana slices. A hard-boiled egg with some pita chips and even a cup of hot cocoa isn't a bad idea either. And fruit smoothies are always popular. The most important thing, Warner said, is to pair up protein with complex carbohydrates.



Cereal, of course, is always a popular breakfast staple, but make sure it's whole grain cereal and has less than 10 grams of sugar. Oh, and be sure they get plenty of milk. Fill an eight-ounce glass and whatever is left over after pouring it on the cereal, give to your child to drink.



Lay everything out the night before



Put all the backpacks, school supplies, clothes and whatever else is needed in one central area so you don't have to root around for stuff in the morning.



Don't overpack



Kids are always eager to bring their electronic gadgets, toys and any other new knickknacks they got over the summer to show their friends. "The end result is their backpack weighs 40 pounds and they haven't gotten their textbooks yet," Muirhead said. Pack only the necessary items at least at first.



Pack healthy lunches



"Take a look at what you're putting in the lunch box," Warner said. "If every one of the food groups is represented, then you have a good lunch." That means including some meat or a meat substitute, some whole grains, a vegetable, some fruit and some dairy, preferably yogurt or milk.



You'll also want to avoid the prepackaged lunches that are popular as they are high in salt, fat and sugar. Instead, invest in plastic containers and create your own lunch packs using turkey and cheese roll-ups, pita chips, baby carrots with ranch dressing and a bunch of grapes.



Be sure to keep the portions small. "A lot of lunch comes home at night because it's overwhelming," Warner said. "Be mindful of the size of their stomach and the size of your portions."



