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What's in Your Backpack?: Preparing for the New School Year

The start of school is just around the corner, and ensuring that students are well prepared for a successful school year goes beyond buying notebooks and school clothes.

Studies show talking with and listening to your child can improve their academic performance by opening up the lines of communication so parents can know what concerns or worries their youngster may have.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, child's success increases in school when a parent takes an active interest in their homework.

Tonya Thompson, a counselor at Vanguard Collegiate High School, says parents, and family members, should make time to build a relationship with their youngster.

"Make sure you talk with them, have some reflection,” Thompson says. “What are their goals? What do you want different from the school year? What do you expect from yourself? How are you going to obtain those? Not just what, but how. What are you going to do differently this year that you maybe didn't last year?"

Thompson says starting off the new academic year with positive friendships can also help students succeed.

Other tools education advocates suggest for students is to get proper rest, implement time management skills, talk about their feelings with someone they trust and read daily affirmations to start each school day with a positive attitude.