• Put Your Child's First Day Nerves to Ease: Point out the positive aspects of starting school: seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Refresh your child's positive memories about previous years.
• Backpack Safety: Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the your child's body weight.  
• School Bus Safety: Tell children to always check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing the street and to never cross in front of the bus unless the bus driver is looking at them.
• Walking to School: If your children are young or are walking to a new school, walk with them the first week to make sure they know the route and can do it safely.To ensure your child is safe consider starting a "walking school bus," in which adults alternate in accompanying a group of children walking to school.
• Snacks and Lunch: Each week check the cafeteria menu that is sent home so you can plan on packing a lunch the days the main course is one not nutritious or one your child dislikes. Also keep in mind that ech 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60% so talk to your child about choosing healthier beverage choices.
• Bullying: To prevent your child from being bullied teach them when and how to ask for help and alert school officials of any problems and work with them on solutions. Make sure your child knows that bullying is never okay and be a positive role model to help ensure your child doesn't become the bully. If your child is a witness to bullying encourage them to include bullied children in activities and to tell a trusted adult.
• Developing Good Studying Habits: Children need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy and distance from distractions. Establish a household rule that the TV set and other distractions stay off during homework time.

Great Start Connect is an online database of Michigan's licensed child care and early education programs. Providers who are connected through Great Start are able to access a Professional Development Registry, which allows them to view and sign up for early childhood training and other helpful opportunities in Michigan.  While providers are able to update their information as soon as there are changes in programs, families are able to conveniently access this information through the database around the clock to choose the child care or preschool program that is the best fit for their family's needs. If there are any unanswered questions from the database it's as easy as the click of a mouse for parents and providers to connect with each other in order to ensure that each child has a great start in their education and early development!