Natural prep: create an environment that allows your child to excel this school year. Here's how to lay the path to success.(children and schedule)

As the new school year approaches and the annual back-to-school sales are revving up, you'll want to do more than assemble the supplies. Helping your child switch from the carefree summer days to a regimented school schedule can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be stressful for parents or kids. With a careful game plan, parents can facilitate a back-to-school routine that supports a healthy lifestyle and successful learning.

stick to the schedule

One of the most important things parents can do before the school year begins is to establish a routine with their children. This routine--which should include set times for turning in for the night, waking up in the morning, doing homework and sitting down to a family dinner--should be started about one week before school begins so everyone has the chance to adjust.

"Establishing the routine is critical," says Mary Lou Kelleher, RN, MSN, a pediatric clinical nurse specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in Boston. "Once the routine is established, live by it, and everyone in the family will thrive."

time for bed

Enforcing a consistent sleeping schedule is important during the school year because it helps children feel well-rested during the day and therefore more able to perform mentally. German research published in January 2004 showed children with a consistent sleep-wake schedule were much less likely to feel tired during the day; they also had an easier time falling asleep at night.

One size does not necessarily fit all in setting the household bedtimes, however, as children of different ages need different amounts of sleep. The Nemours Foundation--one of the nation's largest pediatric subspecialty medical groups--says kids aged 6-9 need 10 hours per night, while those aged 10-12 need about 9 hours, and teenagers need at least 8.5-9 hours per night.