Be thoughtful about planning your family’s fall schedule. A University of Michigan social research study showed that school-age youngsters have only 30 percent of their day as "free" time to use as they wish. The other 70 percent is packed withclasses, homework and extracurricular activities. Just because our own lives might be frenetic with work, family, and the endless tasks of daily life doesn't mean we should program our kids into that rhythm. When we find the balance between offering our children opportunities and running them ragged, our own pace inevitably winds down.

• Manage Your Child’s Schedule
  Consider scheduling lessons for every second week rather than weekly. Give your child the free day to practice or as playtime. Set up a carpooling arrangement so siblings aren't spending their precious time taking "Jimmy to karate." Meanwhile, make sure that activities don't cut into your child's bedtime. If after school classes or sports run until dinner and homework is packed into the evening hours, what time is your daughter hitting the hay? Make sure the weekends are a time to rest, daydream, and recharge for the week ahead.
  
  
• Create a Smooth Take Off
  Give your child a hug before she ventures out the door each morning, look her in the eye, and tell her how proud you are of her. Compliment your son or daughter or express your appreciation. Some days it might be a reach, so get creative. The idea is that your kids leave home on a positive note. Their self-confidence and security will help them do well both in school and in life.
  
  
• Prepare for a Happy Landing at the End of the Day
  Welcome your child home with a predictable ritual and make yourself available to listen. Focus on the positive rather than launching right into your disgust over the state of her bedroom or grilling him on details of the day. Remember that school can be as stressful for a child as Wall Street for a trader. Home is your child’s safe haven.
  
  
• Healthy Body
  Fill your child’s lunch-box with healthy snacks and lunches. Have dinner at a reasonable hour and a healthy breakfast. I feel great when my kids slurp down fruit smoothies complete with wheat germ, juice, various frozen fruits and protein powder. A well-balanced diet maximizes your child's potential.
  
  
• Create a Back Up Plan
  Become proactive about unexpected events. Have a plan should there be a snow day or if the bus doesn’t arrive in the mornings. Also, make arrangements in advance with family, friends, or neighbors if your children should become sick at school and you aren’t able to pick them up. Have a system in place so your kids can stay home if they aren’t well. There’s much less stress when all bases are covered.
  
  
• Homework Haven
  Remember it’s your children’s homework not yours. Create a specific homework space that’s clutter free and quiet. Encourage editing and double-checking, but allow your kids to make mistakes, as it’s the only way teachers can gauge if they understand the material. It's also how children learn responsibility for the quality of their work.
  
  
• Teacher Team
  Be a partner with your child’s teacher. When you need to speak to him or her in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child. Make a point to never criticize your child’s teacher in front of your child. You might even send in a note of appreciation before the year gets going full throttle.
  
  
• Household Order
  Set up a system where routine items are easily located--back packs, shoes, signed notices. Create a central calendar for upcoming events to avoid the unexpected.
  
  
• Habits of Reverence
  Create and incorporate spiritual habits into your family’s daily life. These routine practices will automatically reconnect you with Spirit. Go beyond mealtime and bedtime prayer. Perhaps when your kids brush their teeth they can thank God for their strong healthy bodies. Maybe each time they begin a soccer match they can silently affirm perfect order. Make it a habit to pray anytime you hear a siren—regardless of where you are or what you are doing. Send a blessing to everyone involved in the emergency incident. Come up with your own habits of reverence and your children will incorporate them into their lives.

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