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The kids may want to deny it, but it's coming — the start of school is just weeks away. And savvy parents can plan now to make those first days a bit less hectic.

Here are some ideas from tackling bedtimes, after-school care and preparing for the mass influx of school paperwork that will be heading in the door.

Refocus on academics

If you've spent more time applying suntan lotion this summer than reading, now is the time to dust off the books and flash cards.

"One of the things I've noticed as a mom is I've been horrible about making my kids read," said Clara Vorbroker of Deerfield Twp. "If they read just 15 minutes a night, that gets them focused back on their reading skills.

"Or, for kids that aren't readers yet, parents can make sure they are reading to their children," added the childcare center director.

Vorbroker also noticed her fourth grader was forgetting multiplication facts, prompting her to get out flash cards for a refresher course.

Early to bed, early to rise

Don't try to switch from late summer nights and lazy mornings to school hours in one day.

Establish a good bedtime that works for the family. A good rule of thumb is to figure out what time the child will need to wake up for school and count back eight to 10 hours. That will determine the ideal bedtime, according to Dr. Todd Habel, pediatrician for Muddy Creek Pediatrics in Mason.

"Slowly move it back. Every few days, work it back earlier by a half hour, so it's not a huge jolt."

Circulating fans can help block out noise and room-darkening blinds offer a more peaceful atmosphere, helping block out light from long summer days.

Line up after-school care

For children who will have a new caregiver after school, make sure they meet each other and are comfortable together.

Children who will be home alone for the first time can take courses, such as Better Babysitters, to learn how to be more confident and deal with anxieties of being on their own.

One Mason mom has given her boys a schedule to follow in the hour or two when they get off the bus, before she will arrive from work. They will have a half hour to de-stress with games or television before completing homework and doing several chores. After several days or weeks, she might tweak the schedule, but she feels comfortable heading into the year with a plan for their after-school time.

Take a dry run

Mason Early Childhood Center counselor Sarah Bowser recommends doing a dry run of the bus stop, the ride to school, going into the school and learning how to navigate the way to your child's classroom.

"This can really decrease anxiety and gives kids a sense of control."

Bowser also recommends that parents resist the urge to drive children to school for a few days if they will be riding the bus.

"If you drop them off for the first week, and then they start riding the bus, they haven't gone through the same things other kids do."

Go over back-up plans

If school is unexpectedly dismissed early or you're not home to meet kids at the bus, make sure they know how to get in the house or designate a neighbor's home as a safe place.

Many schools send home paperwork the first week of school, asking parents to identify a back-up person for contact in these situations. Make sure both your back-up and your children know this information.

Also, even the most prepared students will forget a lunchbox or schoolwork from time to time. Take steps to prevent this by putting things close to the door they will leave by and packing up the evening before to avoid the morning chaos. But if Johnny or Susie get to school and forget something anyway, teach them ahead of time not to panic, encourages Bowser.

"Discuss what else they can do and have them try to figure out options," Bowser said. "They might be able to charge a lunch or talk to a teacher. Life is about problem solving and helping a child understand options teaches them to problem solve. What you ultimately want for your child is an independent individual accountable for their actions."

Defeat clutter

Come up with a game plan for organizing the flood of important papers your kids will be bringing home.

Many retailers offer options at all price points to keep families organized. Accordion files at office supply stores keep paperwork filed neatly and are portable, for under $20. Legal-sized files work best for corralling those over-sized art creations and odd-sized papers.

Another option is wire stackable baskets if you have the counter space. Placing a photo of each child in the front makes tossing papers in the right baskets a cinch.

A large dry-erase calendar, placed low enough for all members of the family, is perfect for tracking important deadlines, noting evening practices or special events. Using color-coded markers lets each family member know who needs to be where.

Make it fun

When the lists are posted or mailed identifying your child's teacher, call around to find out who some classmates might be, recommends Erica McCartney. The Dayton mom says this idea helps alleviate some of her daughter's school anxiety.

"I keep numbers of classmates from the previous year, and then my daughter can call them if they haven't kept in touch over the summer and find out who might be in her class."

I also talk about the fun parts of the day, such as recess, and let both my kids get a new lunch box and back pack each year," McCartney said.