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Parents have been testing me with questions about how to make sure their children get a good and healthy start as they head back to school at the end of the month.

Let me take on that assignment and provide five tips on this topic.

1. Make sure your child is in good health by having a preschool checkup and by making sure immunizations are up to date.

If your child does have a medical issue such as an allergy or chronic illness like diabetes or asthma, make sure you review this with the school nurse and your child’s teacher, so an emergency medical plan is in place while your child is at school.

2. Provide a good breakfast during the school year.

This can be done either at home or through a school breakfast program. Children will be more alert and perform better with a morning meal in their stomachs.

3. Ensure that the bedtime routines are in place even before school starts.

Concentration is improved if a child gets a well-rested good night’s sleep, which even for teenagers should ideally be at least eight to nine hours.

4. Try and meet your child’s teacher before the year begins.

If you are unable to do so due to your work schedule, then write to that teacher to introduce yourself and your child.

This establishes a channel of open communication that will hopefully continue throughout the year.

Remember to read all the notices your children bring home about events and activities at the school so you can stay informed of what your children are doing.

5. Include your children in the planning of their school schedule.

For example, your children can help decide whether a snack comes before, during or after homework is done.

Having them pick out their school supplies may also make them more excited about the upcoming school year. This creates a family partnership that will help ensure that homework and learning is a fun and regular part of your family’s schedule.

Hopefully, tips like these will allow you to go to the head of the class when it comes to making sure your child gets a great start going back to school this year.

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Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. You can also catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and NBC5.