hen the school year starts, your teen-ager might be worried about everything from math class to the latest fashions. Your fledgling first-grader, meanwhile, may be anxious about making friends and just finding the restroom.

“There are several things parents can do to ease those first-day-of-school blues,” says Cherie Hughes, Ph.D., a clinical and consulting psychologist at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Whatever your child’s age, you can ease those first-day jitters by helping the student plan for a new school year. “You’ll reinforce the importance of school and make the worries of a new school year less traumatic,” Hughes says.

But remember: The amount of help a student wants differs by age. An elementary-schooler needs plenty of help, while a middle-schooler expects a bit more freedom. An older student might not want Mom and Dad to make any fuss -- but parents should find ways to stay involved because high school presents more choices.

	Two weeks before the school year begins, start getting your child back in the habit of going to bed, rising and eating meals at set times. All youngsters need time to adjust to school schedules after summer activities.
	Make a special trip to the store to buy school supplies. Make a side trip to a clothing store and buy your child a new outfit for the first day.
	Use a calendar to count down the days until school begins.
	Plan a special back-to-school dinner with your child’s help. Rise early and prepare a favorite breakfast on the first day of school.

It’s especially important for a young student to be familiar with new surroundings. Parents often forget how frightening change can be to children. To quell any fears of going to a new school:

	Drive by the school and point it out to your child.
	On another day, take the child to the school and walk around. Play on the playground and look in classrooms and the lunchroom.
	If the child will walk to school, walk the route with him or her at least one morning or afternoon. Walk to the bus stop if the youngster will ride the bus.
	Go to the school’s open house so the youngster can meet the teacher and other students in a relaxed setting. Familiar faces are reassuring on the first day.