By Diane Lang

It’s always a struggle to get myself and my kids ready for school especially after having the summer off from routine and schedule. Here are some tips to make it a smoother start to the school year.

1. Are their basic needs met – make sure to start their day off right ( and yours) with a great breakfast. Breakfast is so important its helps kids with focus and concentration so they can do well in class. Here are some easy breakfast suggestions:

Cereal with low fat milk and add some fruit. Its easy to throw some blueberries or strawberries in with the cheerios. Check that the cereal is low in sugar and high in fiber.

Multi grain or whole wheat toast with peanut butter

A piece of fruit with peanut butter like an apple or banana

Make a fruit salad on Sunday evening and give them a bowl fro breakfast with yogurt or cottage cheese on the side.

If in a rush look in the fridge for any leftovers with a glass of fruit juice. Its not the norm but its better then NO breakfast!!

2. Stay in contact with your teacher – you can email before school starts to introduce yourself and discuss any needs your child has or concerns you have. Stay in touch through out the year not just at parent-teacher conferences. If you don’t have the email address just go to your school’s website and you can find all the emails. Its a good way to stay involved even if your a working mom.

Involved parent = successful child

3. Sleep – a few weeks before school starts get your kids and yourself back on a sleep schedule. If kids don’t get enough sleep their academic careers will suffer. This includes parents too – we all need around 8 hours of sleep, if we dont get it we will feel fatigues, irritable, cranky and eat unhealthy. So, try to go to bed around the same time each night and wake up around the same time each morning.

Make sleep and eating a healthy breakfast a top priority

4. Physical fitness – this is necessary for all kids. They need to burn off steam during the day. Kids do no get enough physical activity at school so we must do more at home. As adults we tend to live a sedentary life especially if we have a job where we sit all day. So, make physical activity a family event. Set up activities for a few times during the week and weekends. Some ideas: Biking, Hiking, Karate, pumpkin or apple picking, join the local YMCA and take swimming lessons, etc.

5. Homework – set up a homework schedule and make it the same time everyday so they get into the routine. It could be right after school or dinner, whatever works best. Set a place they always work on homework such as the kitchen table or dinning room table. Be available so if they have questions you are there for help.

6. Good Habits – make some great new habits or continue the old ones such as reading before bed, gratitude or prayers at the kitchen table, etc. If you start young ( even as young as pre-school) they will continue these good habits until adulthood and longer

Have a great school year!!

– Diane Lang is a therapist, author, and positive psychology educator Diane Lang. Ms. Lang is the author of “Baby Steps: the Path from Motherhood to Career” and “Creating Balance & Finding Happiness.” She has been featured in many publications and shows, including the Daily Record, Family Beautiful Magazine, Health & Beauty NJ, Family and Working Mother Magazine, Good Morning Connecticut, and Fox & Friends. She has counseled patients with different forms of mental illness, physical and emotional abuse, and relationship issues, and is a much-sought-after expert for positive parenting.