1. End Back-to-school Anxiety: 12 Tips to Prep the Whole Family

2. 1) Spot the signs of anxiety Some children are simply more apprehensive than others. No matter the age, children might have nightmares, a change in their sleeping and eating patterns develop new fears talk about a friend who is nervous about school (yep, it's really them!) isolate themselves But a drastic change that interferes with your child's normal activities (like not sleeping or eating) should be brought to a doctor's attention.

3. 2) Chill out Kids sense when parents are nervous and this can exacerbate a child's anxiety -- or create one -- about school Often parents are more anxious to prep for September (finding after-school help, planning carpooling logistics, and all the mom-social-drama) but you can't make it your child's problem.

4. 3) Reroute the routine Don't cut summer short but do prep kids to get their bodies ready for a school schedule by: Phasing in earlier bedtimes (TV is all re-runs anyway) Wake up times (squeeze in more outdoor activities while the weather is nice). Face it: Children are not going to be happy about this, but they will fare much better when the alarm clock goes off at 6 a.m. come September.

5. 4) Respect their feelings When your child talks about being anxious, let them vent. Allow them to feel anxious and then remind her it's okay to have these feelings. She's not necessarily looking for you to fix everything, she just wants you to listen. Remind her that many of her classmates feel uneasy about returning to school, too, so everyone is in the same boat.

6. 5) Get psyched Now that you've talked about your son's middle school angst, find out what he's excited about. New school supplies? New clothes? Anew locker to decorate? Science club? Gym class? Running for school president? It's important to help guide your child to think about the positive.

7. Learn More Read the rest of the 12 tips to End Back-to-school Anxiety http://www.care.com/child-care-end-back-to-school-anxiety-12-tips-to-prep-the-whole-family-p1017-q7404764.html Want to learn more about child care and families? Go here: http://www.care.com/child-care-articles-resources-p1019.html