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Small for School" by Lauren Child, "First Day Jitters" by Julie Danneberg, Sam and Gram and the First Day of School by Dianne Blomberg, "The Berenstain Bears Go to School" by Stan and Jan Berenstain, and "I Don't Want to Go Back to School" by Marisabina Russo are a few good ones to try.

5) Prepare your child physically. Children need a good night's sleep along with a health breakfast that will carry them through the day and keep them alert for learning. It is a parents job to make sure that happens even when little Junior is uncooperative. This is especially important for the first day of school when anxiety may make sleep more difficult.

6) Get organized and stay organized. A child who goes straight from a chaotic, unorganized home into the classroom will have more difficulties than a child who doesn't have to worry about those details. Start a routine before the first day. That routine should include bedtime, waking up time, getting ready time (and what to wear), breakfast time, when to leave for school, when to do homework and where to put things when they finish the homework so it will be ready for the next day. Setting a routine and marking a calendar will give you and your child peace from a chaotic worry-filled school year.

7) Be firm but flexible. As all routines do, sometimes things just blow up no matter how organized you are. Allow for this in your planning and take it in stride. Nothing makes a child more anxious than an anxious parent sending them off to school. When things happen, and they will, just make adjustments and move on. This will teach your child the value of not blowing up or worrying when their plans change.

Each child is a unique individual and a parent must know their child in order to tailor a school routine that works for the entire family. Preparation and organization go a long way toward easing the anxiety children feel when going into any new situation. Let your child have some say in the routines by giving a couple choices. For example, if laying out clothing for the next day, you could offer two outfits and allow the child to choose which one. This will still get him to school wearing something that doesn't embarrass mom, but lets him feel in charge as well. Welcome back to school little one, the adventure has just begun.

Learn more about this author, Angela S. Young.
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