Going back to school is not only nerve-wracking for students — whose minds ease into all things recreation over the summer and must now return to full gear — but for parents taking on the moral, financial and academic responsibilities of advancing their child’s education.

In preparation, education experts are providing tips to families on how to make the new school year a successful one.

Contrary to a common practice, “preparing children the night before school begins is not the most ideal and effective strategy,” according to Laura Olson, vice president of education for Kiddie Academy, a child care and learning center that operates in 21 states. “Parents need to begin transitioning children into the back-to-school routine early enough so they have time to adjust — mentally and physically.”

Olson suggests starting the school year by getting students excited about their studies. This can start, she said, by making back-to-school shopping a family affair. During the shopping trip for school supplies, children should be allowed to cross items off the list and place them in the cart, making them more involved and excited about the process. More importantly, they are taking responsibility for the tools they will use on their academic journey.

After the supplies are purchased, Olson advises parents to initiate a candid dialogue on their child’s feelings about starting school. All anxieties and concerns should be taken seriously and addressed, even if it means enlisting the help of outside assistance.

Establishing a school-year schedule with a child a few weeks before school begins will make the child aware of what needs to be done on a daily basis. Included should be time allotted for the “recommended 10-12 hours of sleep each night,” Olson said. Additionally, before the first day, parents and children should figure out how long it will take for everyone to eat breakfast, get dressed and leave the house on time.

To get students familiar with their instructors and surroundings, and ease anxiety, Olson said parents should research back-to-school activities and events, such as meet-and-greet sessions with teachers and campus walking tours.

“This is the time where parents can open up the communication with their child and talk to them about things they are excited about — [even things] as simple as seeing friends again after the summer,” Olson said. “Or if going to a new school, talk about recess — just things that you know your child will like. And of course, interjecting that with all the things that they are going to learn. [For instance,] if your child likes reading, talk about all the books they will learn.”

Conducted by the website KidsHealth.org, a 2009 survey of 600 students found that 32 percent of the participants worried most about school work when thinking about the new term. To better manage the stress of school work, the website suggests creating a homework plan that begins with understanding the assignment. If a child is unsure, he or she should consult with their teacher before writing it down in a notebook or day planner.

Time management is also seen as critical. According to KidsHealth, most high school students need to set aside between one and three hours for homework each night, while younger students may only require one hour. That time can be broken up to prevent meltdowns. For instance, KidsHealth recommends a 15-minute break for each hour of study time.

To curtail stress buildup, study halls should be used after school. Here, children can get assistance from an adult and there will be less work later when at home, which could leave time for more enjoyable activities. But when a test or quiz is near, any extra time should be spent revisiting homework and classroom lessons, honing in on key themes.

Whether taking a test or doing homework, KidsHealth suggests reading instructions carefully then tackling the toughest subjects or questions first, because students are less burnt-out at the start and can therefore extend their full attention. But don’t spend too much time on one question or subject, they said; rather do your best and move on, and if there is time left, return to it.

Sylvan Learning, a leading provider of tutoring services, suggests five effective study skills for families.

When it comes to hitting the books, parents should be available in case their child needs assistance, and make time after the child has completed to review it for mistakes. Following this, Sylvan senior vice president of education outreach Richard Bavaria recommended that parents have the child summarize the key points of the lesson, which reinforces what has been learned and signals to the parent that a child is comprehending the material.

Furthermore, parents are advised to remind their children that homework assignments may be reflected in tests and that added concentration and early preparation will benefit them should a quiz arise.

“The most common problems that keep students from studying effectively are in a few areas,” Bavaria said, “including knowing how to approach information, comprehension, test-taking methods and personal learning styles.”

Often, Bavaria added, parents tell their children to improve their grades without giving them an area of focus, often leaving children unaware of areas that need work. Communicating and identifying changes that need to be made to improve grades and learning allows students to take responsibility for their own success.

And few people are better acquainted with the state of a child’s education than his or her teacher, which is why Bavaria recommends that parents establish a one-on-one relationship with the instructor. By doing this, the parent is more easily alerted when there is a problem in the classroom, and can work with the teacher, as well as the child, to resolve issues early.

Teachers and parents are generally the first source of assistance, but Bavaria, an educator for more than 40 years, believes “study buddies” are also effective.

“Pick a person that will challenge you, ask questions of you, but also answer questions,” he said. “This should be a person you can rely on…But it’s also a good idea to pair up with someone who has a weakness in a subject area you are strong in and [vice-versa]…that way you can help them in their subject and they can help you in yours.”

Not only do you attack more than one subject, he added, but you also reinforce what you already know, which helps during exams.

When none of these avenues work, individual instruction or tutoring multiple days a week can help with the development of strong study skills.

Parents must also be cognizant of a child’s learning habits. Some, according to a Sylvan Learning tip-sheet, are more alert in the morning; others in the evening. Also, some students work best at a desk with soft music in the background, while others function better while sprawled across the floor in complete silence. Sylvan suggests that parents recognize what environment works best, and create schedules around that learning style.

But what good is hard work if it doesn’t pay off? Bavaria suggests celebrating your child’s achievement to instill confidence in their abilities and make them excited about the learning lessons that are to come.

“Reward the little things,” Bavaria said. “Reinforce not just excellence but improvements and progress.”