As the new school year begins, it’s important to encourage our children’s success. However, getting books, backpacks and “first day of school” outfits, can sometimes overshadow the things that make for a smooth and successful start to the school year.

Here’s an alphabetical guide to the 26 details not to forget this Back to School season.

A is for Ask questions. Ask your child about her day at school.

B is for Breakfast. Healthy meals make for smoother transitions.

C is for Communication. Communicate with your child’s teacher.

D is for Dates. Check dates of school holidays and plan accordingly.

E is for Effort. Praise your child’s best efforts. Let her know how proud you are when your child has truly done her best.

F is for Friends. Get to know your child’s friends, and encourage relationships with those who are a positive influence.

G is for Guidance Counselor. Use the school guidance counselor, she is there to talk with your child if he seems stressed.

H is for Homework. Provide a quiet place that is free of distractions, and help your child as needed, without doing the work for her.

I is for Illness. Keep your child home if she is sick. Germs spread quickly in a classroom.

J is for Jot a Note. Be sure to send a written excuse when your child is absent.

K is for Know the Rules. Be familiar with school rules, policies and dress code.

L is for Listen. Really listen when your child talks to you. Put down your phone, turn off the TV, close the laptop and listen.

M is for Medical Concerns. Let your child’s teacher or school nurse know of any medical concerns, including allergies, your child may have so appropriate accommodations can be made.

N is for Newsletter. Read school and classroom newsletters regularly.

O is for Open House. Attend your school’s open house to find out what’s going on in your child’s class and get to know the teacher.

P is for Praise Good Behavior. It’s easy to take positive behavior for granted, but good kids need to be praised for following the rules.

Q is for Quality Time. Busy lives make quality family time hard to find. Eat dinner together, go for a walk or play a game with your child.

R is for Reading. Read to your children or, if they are already reading, have them read for at least 20 minutes every night.

S is for Smile. Try to send your child off with a smile and a hug to set a positive tone for the day.

T is for Tardiness. In some schools, a certain number of tardy slips count as an unexcused absence.

U is for Update the Teacher. If there are things going on that are affecting your child, let the teacher know. Teachers can offer extra sympathy, understanding and support.

V is for Volunteer. A parent’s involvement in the classroom promotes success in school.

W is for Website. Check out the school website to find important information, changes in dates and suggestions for ways to support your child.

X is for Don’t Focus on the X’s. When graded work is returned, don’t focus on the problems that are marked wrong. Rather than saying, “You only missed 7,” say, “You got 93 right!”

Y is for Yell and Shout. Be your child’s biggest cheerleader. Your praise is more precious than any prize or sticker from the teacher.

Z is for Zip Your Mouth. When you disagree with the teacher, go to her directly. Don’t vent your frustrations in front of your child.

Source: education.com