Back to school or a child’s first time in school can cause great anxiety. Children do not know what to expect and that can often be scary for most. As a parent, there are some things you can do to help your children feel confident and ready for school.

- Even after school has started, you might consider a visit during the day to let your child “show off” his new environment.  If possible, and if your child wants to, stay for lunch so that he can also “show off” his new friends.  Take a tour of the school and classroom to familiarize yourself with the school. Get a schedule of the regular day so the two of you can go over it at home.

- Establish a daily routine once school starts. Try to enlist your child’s help with snacks/lunch and with transportation to and from school (do they want to walk with their friends, bike, etc.?).

- Dress your children comfortably for school. Tennis shoes are always a good idea because children run around on the playground. Easy clothes to get on and off in the bathroom are also a good idea. If your child is comfortably dressed, she will feel more comfortable in school without you there.

- If you are anxious about your child going to school, they will be anxious. Kids follow their parent’s actions. So relax and enjoy the school year!

-Babies and toddlers can only take so much in at one time without creating stress for themselves (and then you!), so try to not overwhelm your children with too much activity. Having your baby being passed to all the admiring relatives and sitting on Santa’s lap for the adorable picture you desire will most likely cause stress in your baby, so let their attitudes guide you. Know when too much activity is enough.

-Young children don’t expect as much as your older children, so don’t empty your bank account trying to fulfill their needs. A book that you can both read together and a fuzzy, stuffed animal are sometimes enough.

- The holiday season is filled with parties, plays, Santa meet and greets, and new movies, especially with grade school children. Try to just pick the activities they wish to do the most. Of course, children will want to go to everything they are invited to, but think about accepting only a few invitations so each is more special and so that you and your family can enjoy them all, and still get family time in.

- The holidays are filled with junk food. Try to make your holiday season healthier this year with better options. Create samplers for your children filled with banana bread, cheese and nuts, oatmeal-raisin cookies, and sliced fruit. For desert, try delicious jello topped with fat-free cool whip.

- For your older children, try to purchase gifts that will enhance their personal abilities. If you have a son who wants to become a baseball player, get him baseball equipment so he can practice, or if you have a daughter, who wishes to become an artist, get her an easel with paint and paintbrushes. Having your children express their interests to you will help with your holiday shopping.

- Buying gifts for teenagers is often more difficult than buying for smaller children. To avoid the dreaded returns, go out shopping with your teen. Have them try on and show you the kind of clothes they like, or what kind of new iPod they want. By having them show you directly what they want, you will make everyone happy.

- Make sure you make time for relaxation and family time. Holidays can get crazy and busy, so set aside an afternoon to play family games, bake cookies, or watch a movie.

1.     Spread your purchases out over the months leading up to the holidays. By not purchasing all your gifts at once, you’ll save more money because you won’t be rushing to find something suitable at the last minute. Buying a few stocking stuffers or gifts before the holidays can help.

2.     Create a budget for all the gifts you need to purchase and make a list of who needs presents.  By creating these lists, it will help you find gifts that fit into your budget.

3.     Look for sales now or purchase online.  Online stores often offer discounts and with the slow economy, many stores are putting many items on sale. Start stocking up now before prices go back up for the holiday season!

With the H1N1 (swine flu) and the normal flu virus already spreading rapidly in schools, keep in mind some simple measures to reduce the risk of catching the flu:

a. The number one piece of advice from every health professional is to make it a habit with you and your children to wash hands frequently and thoroughly.

b. Viruses need a way into the body, so try to resist touching your face when it is not necessary, especially your eyes and nose which are the number one pathways for germs to sneak inside the body.

c. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (or Listerine). This kind of gargling helps to prevent any type of infection from spreading.

d. Clean your nostrils once a day with warm salt water or a saline nasal spray (which is easily available in groceries and pharmacies).  Children could blow their noses once a day, after which you could swab both nostrils with cotton balls or q-tips soaked in salt water.

Some of the common symptoms of the flu are:

- Fever

- Cough

- Sore throat

- Headache

- Runny or stuffy nose

- Body aches

- Chills

- Fatigue

In some cases, diarrhea and vomiting

If you or your children experience any of these symptoms, have them stay home from school and get them to a doctor as soon as possible.

General things you can do to keep your kids (and you) healthy form many colds, etc. include:

1. Making sure that your child to gets the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night to help boost her immune system. Having a set bedtime for your child will also help him keep a balanced routine. Bedtime stories are a good way to get your child excited about going to bed!

2. Eating the right foods, such as those loaded with Vitamin C, which is the vitamin that is most effective at helping to prevent sickness because of its ability to build up the immune system. Some great sources of vitamin C are oranges, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi, cantaloupe and strawberries. As an added bonus, all these fruits will also help boost their energy level.

3. Keeping your child on a good diet.  In addition, too much caffeine and sugar can cause developmental problems.  However, don’t keep your child on too strict of a diet.  You want them to learn life lessons and not circumvent your rules whenever they aren’t at home!  “Everything in moderation” may help keep your child from craving unhealthy foods (and eating them when you aren’t there).

New babies are exciting for just about everyone. Newborns require a lot of attention, but take care that your other children don’t feel left out. There are ways to direct your attention towards all your children:

-If there are family or friends coming over to visit the new baby, they will most likely bring a little gift. Have other gifts for your other children kept away for times like these. A cheap way to do so is get little toys from the dollar store.

- New babies need to be held a lot, but you can still pay attention to your other children. If you are breastfeeding, sit your other children on your lap and read them a story, which is also good for the baby to hear.

- When you are feeding or changing your baby, have your other younger children change or feed a stuffed animal. They can also help you with the baby, but teach them to handle the baby with care.

-Older children often feel left out, too. When your baby is still young, you may miss sports games or other events, so make sure you ask about these activities and make an effort to attend some of them. Encourage them to help with the baby. They will feel as if they are needed, not in the way.

-If your other children are used to having friends over to play, do not change their ways. If you are worried about your baby waking up, create some kind of white noise like a fan or soft music in the baby room.

1. Have a carry on backpack or rolling duffle bag for each child filled with enough books and games to keep them entertained the whole flight. Video games, portable DVD players, iPods (all with headphones), Mad Libs, and coloring books are a few great plane activities!

2. While you can’t bring juice or water bottles on the plane, bringing snacks for your kids is cheaper and healthier than anything you get at the airport. Make sure to pack similar snacks and the same amount for each child (if age appropriate), so siblings don’t fight over the snacks.

3. Pack away a little surprise for you kids on the plane.  A pack of gum, a new DVD, or a new CD will excite your children and make the plane ride that much more enjoyable for the both of you.

4. Pick your seating carefully. If you’re going to be switching planes, sitting close to the front is easier because you’ll have a quicker entrance/exit. If you have a direct flight, sit as close to the back as you can so the bathrooms are accessible and you won’t disturb as many people.

1. Be Available

Your child needs to know that you are always available to talk. Be proactive and ask them questions such as, “What was your favorite part of the day?” or “Did you learn anything fun or interesting in school?” Be patient as they try to discuss their feelings and worries. Encourage them to share with you their own ideas and don’t just dismiss them as unworkable. Praise for the effort will encourage more independent thought! Often, having your child keep a diary or journal will help them put their thoughts into words.

2. Always be Consistent

Although it may seem counterintuitive, children like rules and routine. They can feel more secure if they know the boundaries and only have to figure out how to operate within set limits. Simple rules clearly expressed will make them happier and your life easier!

3. If your answer is “no” then stick with no!

Sticking with “no” is really just operation within the boundaries you’ve set. If you waffle, you make the lines blurry, the kids afraid, and no one learns how to behave or knows what is expected. Be fair and make sure the rule is known beforehand, but act quickly and firmly to keep to the rule when you are challenged. Don’t make empty threats, so think before you suggest a punishment, then stick to it!

4. Secrets Hurt

Keeping secrets that confuse your child or make him/her feel bad is not good and you should let your child know that they shouldn’t agree to keep such secrets. They should only agree to keep a secret on condition that is not hurtful in this way.

1. Make a game out of homework!  A simple, yet effective game that can help your children memorize information, such as vocabulary words or math facts, is an at-home version of Hollywood Squares. First, create a large tic-tac-toe board and glue or tape pictures of your children’s favorite celebrities, one picture per square. Assign a flash card (with homework questions) to each square. Whosever turn it is picks a square, then answers a question from her study flash cards. If she gets it right, she put a chip on that square. If she misses, it’s the next player’s turn. The first player to get three squares in a row wins the round!

2. Make a study zone for your children. Get a bin, let your child decorate it, and fill it with school supplies so he can take his bin and study anywhere, anytime! Kids also love personalized school supplies, so let them decorate their pencils and binders or you can order personalized supplies online.

A lot of children do not understand the importance of washing their hands and good hygiene. A fun and simple way to help keep your children on track is to create a good hygiene chart with a poster board. Make a box for each day of the week and if your child demonstrated good hygiene that day, let them put a sticker on the chart. If you create an incentive when they fill a whole week with stickers, reward them. It can be anything from a piece of candy or staying up 15 minutes later than their usual bedtime.

Set aside time each day for reading aloud, or, if your child prefers, for silent reading. Try to make it the same time each day so your children expect and look forward to this time with you. Pick something to read that your children are interested in. Talk about what you’ve read with your children. This will help your children understand what they are reading. Encourage your children to draw and/or write about what they’ve read. Doing this may help them learn to focus on what they are learning from the books. Local libraries often develop fun summer activities around reading. Bring books with you wherever you go!