Are your kids prepared for the new school year? Are you? While kids need to prepare emotionally and mentally for getting into the back-to-school routine, parents need to get ready on many fronts too. Here's a handy checklist of preparations to tackle before school starts.

Get up-to-date on vaccinations and sports physicals. It all starts with an annual check-up performed by our team of expert pediatricians. These exams inform you if your child's health and development are progressing as they should, uncover any potential wellness issues that might impact their performance during the school year, and alert you to any required immunizations your child might be missing.

Student athletes can receive the necessary clearance they need to participate in school sports by scheduling a routine physical with our team of pediatricians or sports medicine specialists. If you can't wait for a regular appointment, these sports physicals are also performed at Watson Clinic Urgent Care Main, or by Dr. Jarett Gregory at Watson Clinic Urgent Care South.

Transition to school sleep/wake schedule. A good night's sleep will help your child concentrate, retain information and prevent mood swings. To aid the transition from vacation time to school time, figure out how many weeks it will take for your child to fall into an optimum sleep routine for school nights if they go to bed and wake up 15 minutes earlier every few days before school starts. Watson Clinic's Sleep Disorders Center can provide additional advice for a healthy night's sleep.

Choose a suitable backpack. For safety's sake, a filled backpack should weigh no more than 10% to 20% of your child's body weight. Adjust the backpack so the bottom meets your child's waist. If your child's load is heavy, consider a rolling backpack. And don't forget to tuck an in-case-of-emergency card in the backpack.

Talk to your kids about bullying. Bullying is linked to a range of educational and emotional problems. Make sure your child knows:

• To seek a trusted adult for help if they are bullied.

• How to respond nonviolently to bullying.

• That you're monitoring their texts and social media accounts for bullying behavior.

• That it's never OK to bully someone, even if encouraged by others.

Arrange for caretaking. If you need help before or after school, look into responsible school programs, off-site institutions, or caretakers at your home or theirs.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sleep Foundation