Five Things You Need to Do Before Kids Head Back to School

School starts on Aug. 7 in the city of Atlanta, and there’s no better time to prepare than right now. Here are five tips for getting your family what it needs for the big day:

1.    Stock up on school supply essentials now. Nina Esposito-Visgitis, President of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, recommends buying basic supplies before the first day of school. Here are the priorities she lists: pencils (regular and colored), pens, magic markers, loose-leaf paper, spiral notebooks, pocket folders, binders, a hole punch, glue, and construction paper.

2.    Purchase a durable backpack. Cheaper backpacks are usually flimsy and rip easily, Esposito-Visgitis points out. “Make sure that they are sturdy, with straps in order to protect the student’s shoulders and backs, as backpacks can get heavy.”

3.    Organize the family calendar. Know what you're doing and when by organizing your after-school activities, drop-off, pick-up and child-care plans, Esposito-Visgitis says.

4.    Mark your student’s flash drive. Buy a light-colored flash drive and write the student's initials on it with a marker, or put a sticker on it, Esposito-Visgitis says.

5.    Find out what supplies teachers expect students to have for the year. Get lists from teachers (often online on your school district website) for specific school supplies, including “big ticket” items such as calculators, Tromlin advises. “Many parents ask about the kind of calculator they need to buy for their child,” he says. “My best advice: Save yourself time and money and ask the teacher.”