Putting the following strategies into action now will save a lot of time and anxiety later.

 
1. Shift Your Schedules — Ease back into a school schedule by shifting bedtime back to a school-day bedtime and waking your child closer to the hour he'll need to rise.

2. Clean House — Go through your child's clothes and get rid of anything he's outgrown or worn threadbare. It'll be easier to choose outfits if there's less clutter. 3. Get Papers in Order — It's a great idea to make extra photocopies of any form your child might need year after year, like parental release forms, so you don't have to look up or re-copy emergency contact numbers and doctors' addresses each time.

4. Create Calendar & File Central — Set up an area with a large calendar so everyone in your family can see everyone else's plans for that month. For added organization, color-code each family member and keep colored markers nearby so everyone can easily mark plans. Pen in after-school activities, lessons, play-dates, and family time. Nearby, set up file baskets or bins marked "To be Signed," "From School," and "To School," so your child can deposit papers you need to see in a regular place right after school and pick up things to go "To School" each morning.

For more useful tips visit www.scholastic.com