Back to School Basics Guide

It's hard to believe that the school year is right around the corner, but soon lunches will be packed and classrooms filled up again.

In order to make the back-to-school transition a smooth one, Patch has put together a list of helpful tips and resources for both parents and students.  

Naperville school orientation dates, bus information and reminders 

Back to School tips

• The Huffington Post has an excellent article on back to school shopping tips.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics has a great list of tips ranging from tips to making friends to stopping bullying.
• If you don't have class supply lists, buy the essential supplies your student will need (pencils, paper, binders) while the sales are on.
• And, if you can afford it, buy a little extra school supplies for the people who are struggling financially by donating at .

Things to do before school starts

•  Stop Separation Anxiety

This is possibly the hardest part of school for both children and parents is separation anxiety. It can affect children even into their pre-teen years. The National Institute of Mental Health has said that 25.1 percent of 13- to18-year-olds suffer from some form anxiety.

Try these tips to limit anxiety stemming from separation:

• Be well rested—this applies to both parents and children, as feeling tired will increase stress.
• Develop a "goodbye" ritual—according to helpguide.org, "Rituals are reassuring and can be as simple as a special wave through the window or a goodbye kiss."
• Let the child bring a piece of home with them. The piece could be something as small as a toy or as large as a backpack, but the familiarity it brings will help greatly.
• Don't give in—this applies to both children and parents. Don't let a child delay going to school, or claim being sick, but parents have to also keep their distance and not hover.
• Start to get back into a daily routine for sleeping and eating. Here are some tips for how to get into a back-to-school routine.

For more information on separation anxiety visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. 

For more information on Naperville Unit School District 203, visit 

For more information on Indian Prairie School District 204, visit http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/