Before the academic year begins, walk with your new kindergartener to the school building if it's close enough. On the way, talk about what to expect, like teachers, new children, classroom rules and being away from home all day. If you are allowed inside, walk to the classroom and locate the bathrooms. These steps can help alleviate the anxiety your child--and you--might be feeling about the first day of school.

If your son or daughter is entering middle school or junior high, they'll need a period of adjustment. Instead of being the oldest children at school, they now will be the youngest. They'll have lockers, a homeroom and more homework to do every night. This can all be stressful for a child.

You can take steps at home to help your children succeed this school year.

•   Serve them a good breakfast. Studies show that children learn best when they eat in the morning.

•   Set up a well-lighted area in the house for homework that is quiet and away from distractions (like TV).

•   Enforce bedtime so your children get enough sleep every night.

The Kids Health website is full of tips about making an easy transition back to school. Another good article is this one by a psychologist who was on MSNBC.