Yesterday I highlighted some LGBT-specific resources on school-related topics. As a complement to that, here’s a more general resource for any parent with school-age children. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a list of Back to School Tips about Making the First Day Easier, Backpack Safety, Traveling to and from School, Eating During the School Day, Bullying, Before and After School Child Care, and Developing Good Homework and Study Habits.
Most of their ideas are common sense, but I always say that if there are even one or two useful items in a list like this, it’s worth the read. For example, I know children’s backpacks shouldn’t be too heavy, but how much is that? Ten to 20 percent of the student’s body weight.