By Carlos Torres

Believe it or not, school is here and it's time to start thinking about what your child’s needs for the school year. Take a look at this checklist to help guide you through the transition.

• School Lunches: Many schools participate in the National School Lunch Program which offers free or low cost lunches and, in some cases, breakfast to students whose families are below or near the poverty line. Each school administers their own program so contact your child’s school to learn more about signing up. Take a look at this fact sheet for more information about the Nation School Lunch Program.
   
• Vaccinations: Making sure that your child is properly vaccinated before school starts not only protects your children, it also helps protect teachers, faculty and other students.  In fact, without the proper vaccinations your child may not even be allowed to attend school. Every school district has their own requirements so contact your child’s school to see what the requirements are in your area.
   
• Vision Exams: If your child has trouble seeing the chalkboard or whatever else is going on in the classroom it will be difficult for them to pay attention and to actively participate. Make sure that your child has had a proper vision exam before the school year starts to head off these and other issues. This site has a lot of great information about children’s vision.
   
• Communicate with the school nurse: If your child has any special needs, whether it be dealing with a learning or other disability, or having to take allergy, asthma, diabetes or any other type of medication during school hours, it is important that you communicate with your child’s school nurse to make sure that all of your child’s needs are being met. Take a look at some great information that school nurses would like parents to know.
   
• Physical Activity: Many parents assume that school gym classes are enough physical activity to keep their children in good shape but that is usually not the case. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that children get sixty minutes of physical activity every day. Click here for some fun and original play ideas to help your kids stay active.

Photo credit: Woodley Wonderworks