Are your kids prepared for the new school year? Are you? While kids need to prepare emotionally and mentally for getting into the back-to-school routine, parents need to get ready on many fronts, too. Here's a handy checklist of preparations to tackle before school starts.
Health prep
To help make sure your child stays healthy during the school year:
-
Get up-to-date vaccinations
Immunizations can protect your child against serious diseases, and some are required for entry into school in the state of Arizona. You may have seen signs from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) around your child’s school that say “No shots? No School! It’s the Law.”
Arizona school immunization laws require students to receive immunizations and submit immunization records before entry to preschool programs, child care, and school (with some exemptions).
-
For a full list of required vaccinations for child care, preschool, or head start, visit: CC Guide to Immunizations Required for Entry, 2023-2024_English (azdhs.gov)
-
For a full list of required vaccinations for grades K-12, visit: school-immunization-requirements.pdf (azdhs.gov)
If you have questions, check with your school!
Eligible children can get immunizations at no cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program in Arizona. Providers may charge an administration fee, but they must waive the fee if the parent is unable to pay.
-
Arrange for a sports physical if your child plays sports
An exam can give you peace of mind that your kid can handle the physical demands asked of them in school sports and extracurricular activities. In fact, a lot of sports require a physical for a medical eligibility form.
At-home prep
Before the first day of school, spend time with your child on some important issues:
-
Talk to your kids about bullying
Bullying is linked to a range of educational and emotional problems. Make sure your child knows:
-
To seek a trusted adult for help if they are bullied.
-
How to respond nonviolently to bullying.
-
That you're monitoring their texts and social media accounts for bullying behavior.
-
That it's never OK to bully someone, even if encouraged by others.
-
Transition to school sleep/wake schedule
A good night's sleep will help your child concentrate, retain information and prevent mood swings. To aid the transition from vacation time to school time, figure out how many weeks it will take for your child to fall into an optimum sleep routine for school nights if they go to bed and wake up 15 minutes earlier every few days before school starts.
Readjusting to the school routine can be challenging. Try not to pressure yourself to accomplish all these preparations at once. Ease back into the back-to-school talks, transitions, and plans!