The Mom I Want to Be

Tips on BTS safety, health, making the adjustment, and more!

Back to School Tips

• Back to School Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Covers many topics:  the first day; backpack safety; traveling to and from school; eating during the school day; bullying; child care before and after school; and homework and study habits.
  • Also available in Spanish:  Consejos Para el Regreso a Clases

Back to School Safety

• School bus safety rules—from the National Safety Council—how to get on and off the bus, and how to cross the street safely.
• Get to school safely!—the US Department of Education—many tips for kids who take the bus, subway, walk, ride, or drive, along with safety activities for parents to do with their children.
• School Safety—getting there, on the bus, and in the classroom—from McGruff the Crime Dog.
• Help children avoid injuries as they head back to school—news from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) on playground, bicycle and sports safety, and more.

 BTS Safety on YourChild:

• Youth Sports Safety Resources
• Playground and Outdoor Play Safety
• Motor Vehicle Safety: Car Seats, Child Passengers and Teen Drivers
• Safety Out and About: Walking, Biking, Scooters, School Buses
• Personal Safety

Back to School Nutrition and Health

• Ten tips for packing a healthy lunch for kids
• School lunches—tips for how to help your child choose wisely in the cafeteria, and how to give your packed lunches a healthy ‘makeover”
• The ABC’s of a healthy school year
• Power up your day with breakfast
• YourChild:  Walking to school
• YourChild:  Feeding Your Child
• YourChild:  Obesity and Overweight

 Making the Adjustment

• Tips to help young children adjust when it’s time to go back to school.
• Back to school for kids with special needs—find out how to understand and help your child adjust to school, if they are shy, high energy, anxious, at a new school, have special developmental or mental health needs, or are under some kind of family stress.

More BTS Information

• Getting Involved in Your Child’s Education
• Reading and Your Child
• Lots more back-to-school links from Kidshealth.org for parents, kids and teens.  Includes information on homework, extracurricular activities, bullying, stress, and getting along with teachers.