This could be the best school year ever for your child from just a little planning and thinking ahead about the needs of the child. So where to begin?

Get organized! Show your child how being organized pays off in life. Set up situations in which your child will experience being able to find things, being on time, and the sense of control that being organized brings.

There is an old saying, “well begun is half done,” and it certainly is true about getting off to school. To help mornings go smoothly start planning the night before by making sure your child gets enough rest. An earlier bedtime can make a huge difference to your child's ability to function in the morning. With your child's help, lay out his or her clothes before bed and put everything needed for the next day in the backpack. It's a good idea to put the backpack right on top of your child's shoes so he or she can't leave the house without it.

Have a designated place for your child to do homework, and make sure he or she has the necessary supplies to be organized. Keep materials like pencils, paper, ruler, and colored markers all together in a pencil box or shoebox to save time looking around when doing homework. There should be a pre-set time to do homework. Some families like to do homework right after school, while others prefer doing it after dinner. Whatever you decide, find a time that works for everyone and then stick to it as much as possible.

To keep track of important notes from school: the minute your child gets home, stick the note on the refrigerator or a magnetic bulletin board. It won't get lost in a pile of papers, or on the bottom of the backpack.

Is your child overscheduled and trying to do far more than a child should do at his age? Take a critical look at your child's extra-curricular activities. Look especially hard at team sports, which require long hours of practice. If so, consider cutting back to leave more time and energy for learning.

Praise has tremendous motivational power. Find interesting ways to praise your child's accomplishments. It may be as simple as displaying a child's best work on the refrigerator, collecting items to make scrapbooks or by sharing good news via facebook or twitter. Celebrate your child's successes no matter how small. Learning is not always easy for children, and sometimes their progress may be measured in very small steps. When your child does master a new skill, rejoice together.

Save time for fun. Play restores the body and stimulates brain connections, which makes learning easier in school. After all, there's more to life than long division.

For more information, contact Anna Peele, Extension Agent, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at 910.592.7161.