It won’t be long before school is back in session We have some tips to help ensure that your child’s school year is as fun, safe and productive as possible.

Better Days Start at Breakfast

Because their bodies have just gone 8 to 12 hours without food during sleep, kids need to refuel for the day ahead. Skipping breakfast has been shown to make kids feel tired, restless or irritable throughout the school day. Give them the start they need by providing a breakfast that’s rich in whole grains, fiber and protein and low in added sugar — it’ll boost their attention span, concentration and memory!

Healthier Lunches Start at Home

Packing your kids’ lunches gives you some control over how healthfully they’re eating at school. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to pack a healthy lunch every day, and you can even have your kids help with preparing their packed lunches. In doing so, they’ll learn healthy eating habits, and they’ll be much more likely to eat and enjoy their nutritious lunches.

Promote Backpack Safety

Backpacks that are too heavy can quietly cause serious medical issues for your kids, including shoulder pain and poor posture. As you’re looking for your child’s next backpack, ensure that it’s the correct size, has padded back and shoulder straps, multiple compartments to better distribute weight and compression straps on the sides or bottom to stabilize contents.

Ensure They Get Enough Sleep

The amount of sleep your child needs varies greatly by age, but it’s no secret that kids perform better in school when they’re well rested. If your children are having trouble sleeping, you can follow a few tips to help them get a better night’s sleep, such as turning off the TV before bedtime and keeping their room cool and quiet.

Lighten Their Workload

If your child consistently appears tired, anxious or depressed, or they fall behind on their schoolwork, they may be overscheduled and overworked. Especially full schedules may result in excessive stress for your child, leading to stomach issues or headaches. Keeping a calendar, setting priorities to create family time, understanding when it’s okay to say “no” and remembering the importance of downtime are some key ways to reduce stress in your child’s life.

For more information and back-to-school tips, visit HealthyChildren.org.