Back to School Article Archive

• 10 Ways To Help Your Child Successfully Return to SchoolWhether parents like it or not, we are our children’s barometers. How they react to potentially stressful situations like the first day back at school depends on how we act. Teach your child that you believe in her and know she can tackle any challenges that come up during this new school year.
• 8 Back-to-School Family TraditionsCreating back-to-school memories for your children can be simple or elaborate. The tradition doesn’t matter; what does is easing them back with a special memory.
• Less Homework StressTake the whine out of homework time with these expert tips.
• Back-to-School Shopping: Money-Saving TipsHow to shop smart when the new school year rolls around.
• What Kids Need To Succeed in SchoolFrom safety scissors to new shoes, you go out of your way to make sure your children get what they need for school. But it’s just as important to make sure your routine at home gives them what they need to learn. Here are seven simple ways you can help your kids arrive at school healthy, happy, and ready to learn.
• Why Parent Involvement MattersGetting involved in school can help your child get a better education.
• Get Kids Talking About SchoolTry these questions to help your child open up about what goes on during his school day.
• Delicious, Colorful, and Healthy School Lunch Box IdeasThese fresh ideas for school lunch meet all the criteria for success: ease of preparation, nutrition, colorful presentation, and involvement from your child.
• 3 Keys to School SuccessGet your children charged up and ready to learn with these tips.
• Budget-Friendly School Shopping TipsMove to the head of the class with these A+ tips for back-to-school shopping.
• Tips for Raising a ReaderSome kids live to read; others won't go near books without being prodded. Our experts offer ideas to encourage children of all ages, and interest levels, to read.
• Homework: How Much Should You Help?Strategies to make homework time easier for both you and your child, including when—and how—to lend a hand.
• A Teacher’s Advice for Struggling StudentsCarol Wooten, winner of a presidential teaching excellence award, shares her insights with parents whose kids are having trouble reaching their full potential in school.
• 5 Ways To Help Your Child Succeed in SchoolGet your children ready to perform like heroes in school with these teacher-recommended tips.
• School Lunch Menu IdeasYes, you can find a sack lunch that your kids will like and that’s healthy, too—even if they don’t know it!
• How To Get Involved at School20 simple ways you can help your child and the school.
• Ease Back-to-School StressIf back-to-school time has your child wound up, you can help him adjust. Slowly switching to an earlier bedtime and displaying a calm, positive attitude will help.
• Fewer Fights About School ClothesStrategies for cutting down on the fuss over what your child wants to wear.
• Make the Teacher Your PartnerQ&A with veteran teacher Scott Mandel on how parents and teachers can work together for student success.
• Fun Lunch IdeasComing up with fresh ideas for your child’s lunch box can be challenging. These simple dishes are nutritious, but still fun enough that kids will give them a try.
• Help Kids Gear Up for the New School YearFollow these tips to help the whole family get ready to go back to school.
• Understanding Common Education TermsEver feel like you need a translator to understand what a teacher is saying? This collection of common school and education terms will help you understand the acronyms and jargon you may encounter.
• Involvement Matters: What Parents Should KnowWhy should you get involved in your child’s education? Because it can make a dramatic difference in your child’s achievement at school and beyond.
• How To Manage School ClutterArt projects, school flyers, and dirty gym clothes are just a few of the things your kids bring home from school. Here’s how to keep it all under control.
• Start a Back-to-School TraditionEase the transition to a new school year and create family memories with a special way to mark this important time.
• How To Save on Back-to-School ShoppingHelpful strategies to help you shop smart and get more for your money at back-to-school time.
• What School Parent Groups DoPTOs and PTAs are often known for their fundraising, but they do a lot more.
• Help Your Child Adjust SociallyFinding the right niche can help your child feel happier at school.
• Back-to-School Planning GuideWe all want a carefree summer, but getting ready for a new school year requires a little organization. With our guide, you can stay on track all summer long and still have plenty of time for family fun.
• Ease the Transition to a New SchoolTips to help make this big adjustment easier for your child—and for you.
• Support Education To Boost Your Child’s SuccessAs a new school year begins, be supportive of your child’s education.
• Help Your Middle Schooler AdjustStarting at a new school, especially in the middle grades, can be tough.
• Provide Nutritious Snacks for After-School Study SessionsChances are, the refrigerator is your middle schooler’s first stop upon walking through the door after school.
• Help Your Child Get Organized For a Successful School YearKids in middle school can be smart. They can work hard. Yet they can still fail.
• Help Your Middle Schooler Get Off to a Good Start This YearIt’s a new school year, and middle schoolers need help starting off on the right foot.
• Kids Can Manage Anxieties With Goals and OrganizationMiddle schoolers have lots of worries.
• Make your back-to-school night invitingAre you looking for new ways to make back-to-school night more meaningful and interesting for parents?
• Make These Resolutions Now for the New School YearFor many people, the start of a new school year seems like the real beginning of a new year.
• Get Your New High Schooler Off to a Good Start This Year!The change from middle school or junior high to high school can be especially challenging.
• Start Good Habits Early to Make the Most of the Year
• Routines and Schedules Start the Year RightWays to get your family back into a good routine for the school year.
• Establish Daily Routines To Start The New YearTake time to set up routines when the new school year begins.
• Make the Back-to-School Transition A Smooth OneEvery child gets a little nervous about starting school. Some simply don’t want summer fun to end.
• Get a Great Start to Make Your Child’s Year a SuccessHow you start the school year can determine how well the rest of the year will go.
• Getting off to a Good StartYou can help your child start the school year strong.
• Make Homework Time More ProductiveThe beginning of a new school year is the perfect time to create positive homework habits.
• 10 Ways To Help Your Child Be Successful in the New YearThe break from school will be over soon. Use these ideas to help get your child back into the swing of things at school after vacation ends.
• Good Habits for a Good School YearAlong with new shoes and new pencils, your child may need some new habits this year.
• 6 Ideas for New "School Year" Resolutions for Parents Along with other New Year's resolutions, now is a great time to make new “school year” resolutions. These six ideas can help.
• Make the Start of School Easier for Your ChildStarting kindergarten can be scary for kids.
• Make a Summer Memory BoxWhen your child enters school each fall, he’s sure to be asked, “What did you do over the summer?”
• Back-to-School Parent HomeworkA little preparation before school starts can make it an A-plus year for the whole family.
• 10 Questions About Your Child and SchoolThe more you know about how your child deals with challenges and what's expected of him, the better you'll be able to help him achieve. Start by asking these key questions.
• What Kids Are WearingNew trends in school clothes are a way for children to express themselves.
• Back-to-School BooksReading about going back to school is a great way to ease the transition. Especially with younger children, as you turn the pages together, you can talk about their real-life hopes and fears as well as discuss the wonderful characters in these books.
• Back to School: Fun FactsFast facts about going back to school from the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Travel Safely to and From SchoolTop tips to keep kids safe traveling to and from school.
• Top 5 Causes of Missed SchoolThe top five infectious illnesses that keep kids home from school and child care.
• My Life as a VolunteerSpending time in her children’s classrooms brings a mom joy, insight, and unexpected rewards.
• 12 Back-to-School Organization TipsGet the family organized and ready to roll for the new school year with these key tips.
• Back-to-School Shopping TipsFrom notebooks to clothes to computers, these tips will help take the stress out of shopping.
• How Dads Can HelpWhen fathers get involved, children do better in school. Here are some simple, effective ways that dads can make a difference.
• What Is Your Child’s Learning Style?Understanding how your child learns can reduce frustration and improve achievement.
• Teacher's Tips: How Parents Can HelpPractical advice for working with your child’s teacher.
• Parents Are Teachers, TooUse these simple ideas to reinforce learning at home and develop your child’s academic skills.
• Moving Up to Middle SchoolThe step from elementary to middle school can be a big one, but these tips will help ease the transition for both parents and children.
• Get Ready for KindergartenBeing sure of your child's kindergarten readiness will help ease first-day stress and prepare your child for kindergarten success in the year ahead.
• Homework 911You don’t have to feel like the homework police. Avoid emergencies with these expert tips.
• Internet Safety Tips for ParentsKids need to use the Internet; these tips will help you keep them safe.
• 11 Tips for Kindergarten ParentsSimple ways to get involved and make a difference for your child and the school.
• 10 Tips for Middle School ParentsWays to stay involved in your child’s education—even when she’d rather not have you around.
• Back-to-School QuizThe transition from summer fun to school rules can stress out kids and parents alike. Take our quiz to see what your future holds: happy days or high blood pressure!
• School Supplies: Then and NowThe more things change...
• Feeling Sick? When To Stay HomeWith all the stomachaches and sniffles that come along with childhood, it can be hard to know when to keep a sick child home from school.
• One Last Dance With My DaughterA mom writes movingly about what it means to be involved in her child's school and education. A must-read for any parent who has ever thought about volunteering at school.
• Shop Smart for Back to SchoolConfused about where to start your back-to-school shopping? We canvassed experts to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
• A New Year, A New AdventureOne mom's look at the excitement and pitfalls of back-to-school time—for parent and child alike.
• Start the School Year RightPlan ahead for a smooth transition and a successful school year for everyone.
• 25 Ways You Can Make a DifferenceBeing involved in your children’s education can be as simple as asking them about their school day or as bold as volunteering once a week for lunchroom duty.
• School Clothes: Winning the BattleSolutions for negotiating some of the most common parent-child school clothing disagreements.
• 5 Sack Lunches Kids LoveDistract finicky eaters by putting together a meal that’s so much fun to eat, they won’t be thinking about whether it’s on their short list of “likes.”
• Ready, Set, Back to SchoolDon't forget to complete basic tasks—checking to see if your child needs a physical exam, evaluating extra-curricular activities, and more—before school starts.
• Back-to-School ChecklistDon't forget a thing! This comprehensive back-to-school checklist will help make sure all your i's are dotted and t's crossed before your child's first day.
• Talking With Teachers About Student ProgressDon't wait for the report card to find out how your child is doing in school; a veteran principal offers tips for parents to keep in touch all year long.
• Eating, Sleeping, and LearningEstablishing healthy habits now can ease the transition to a new school year.