The end of the summer is drawing near -- and so is the beginning of the school year. Is your child ready for the first day of school?

Here are some steps you can take to prepare your kids for school:

• Teach Your Child Contact Information: Make sure he or she can recite your home address and phone number, including area code, and parents' work number -- and teach them the difference between strangers and trusted adults, like teachers and police officers. Also be sure they know how to use 911 in emergencies.
• Review Your Child's Route To School: Make sure your child has a safe route to school. If he or she is walking, find the quickest way with fewest streets and crossings. Avoid parks, vacant lots, fields and other places where there aren't many people around. Do a practice walk to make your child comfortable with the route.
• Talk About The School Bus: If your child will be riding the bus, make sure he or she knows and can identify the bus number and the driver. Do not drive your child to school on the first day; immediately implement the school bus routine.
• Start School Sleeping Schedule Early: If your child will have a different sleeping schedule for school, gradually implement it about a week before school starts. Begin putting him or her to bed 10-15 minutes earlier each night, and waking them earlier in the morning so their sleeping schedule will be in place when school starts.
• Prepare The Night Before: Have your child lay out an outfit and pack a lunch the night before so the first morning -- and those thereafter -- go smoothly.
• Plan After-School Activities Together: Agree on an after-school routine for your child, whether it be coming home, going to a caregiver or participating in an after-school activity. If your child will be home alone, have them check in with you immediately when the arrive. Make sure your child knows to ask permission before doing anything other than your agreed-upon after-school routine, such as going to a friend's house.