Getting back into the school routine can be a challenge for everyone in the family. To make the adjustment easier, start early. Here are a few tips to help you:

• Move bedtime back to an earlier time.
• Put a positive spin on going back to school. Talk about the fun things your child will learn, the old friends she/he'll see and the new friends he'll make.
• If your child is anxious about starting the next grade, reassure her that other children have these feelings too.
• Don't make plans for big trips right before the start of school.
• Establish school-day schedules for homework, TV, baths and bedtime.

Get organized for good

• Make a commitment to establish a "get ready the night before" policy. Pick clothes for the next day and pack the backpack every evening before bedtime, and you'll save precious time in the morning.

School clothes

·       It's always a great idea to buy what you know you'll need early, if you can. Go through your children's wardrobes and weed out everything they've outgrown. By reducing the clutter, you will be able to get them dressed quickly and easily.

·       Keep in mind school dress codes while shopping.

Lunch

If you will be packing a lunch from home, be sure to have a sturdy lunch box or a supply of paper bags on hand. Here are some quick and creative ideas that you can try in the coming term for making school lunches healthy and fun

• For the younger child, use cookie cutters to make sandwiches into interesting shapes.
• Sneak vegetables like lettuce, cucumber or zucchini slices into sandwiches.
• Buy baked chips and low-fat crackers. Avoid items with trans fats in them such as packaged cookies, snack cakes and regular chips.
• Choose 1% or fat-free milk or 100% fruit juices.
• Make fruit fun to eat by cutting it into slices and putting it on a skewer or include small containers of applesauce or pineapple packed in its own juice.
• For the younger child, write a surprise message or draw a funny picture and put it in her lunch.
• Get older children to help pack their lunches. You may need to arrange the morning routine (or evening routine if you do this the night before) so that you don't do this chore by yourself.