As the school year begins, every family wants their children to be healthy, active, and ready to learn.

To prepare children and teens to be at their best – physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally – the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular visits with the pediatrician, as well as immunizations that help keep all family members healthy.

As school attendance plays a huge role in the development of children and teens, families can partner with pediatricians and schools to help students thrive and succeed.

The AAP offers 10 tips on giving children their best chances for success this school year.

More from CafeMom: Printable Back-to-School Morning Visual Schedule for Kids

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There’s no question that the pandemic had far-reaching effects on the entire world. It changed every aspect of our daily lives; from how we worked and did business, shopped for groceries, and celebrated milestones with our families. Schools across the nation went virtual, childcare facilities were closed, and mommy-and-me play groups disbanded while entire families retreated to the safety of their homes. As a result, babies born during the pandemic had few opportunities for socialization and enrichment. Caregivers are now tasked with preparing pandemic babies for preschool.

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Kids are back in school, and it’s time to think about what they will do in the hours in between school and dinner. You may be looking for a great after-school program or just putting together some fun ideas to keep the kids and their friends engaged in activities that they enjoy. According to Bayu Prihandito, a licensed psychologist, “The key to a balanced life for kids is a mix of physical, creative, and intellectual activities.”

Here’s a list of some of our best ideas for after-school activities.

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Act locally, think globally>; we've heard it for years, but with energy companies responsible for 70% of the industrial admissions that contribute to human-driven climate change, it's easy to feel as though our individual efforts are a waste of time. But now more than ever, we need to work to reduce our carbon footprint and encourage our kids to do the same.

How did Earth Day come about? A major oil spill in 1970 was the catalyst for what is now known as Earth Day. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day as an initiative to draw awareness to air and water pollution, and on April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated.

If you're looking to teach your kids about recycling and sustainability, here are some Earth Day crafts and activities for a variety of ages.

More from Mom.com: Why Earth Day Is Important

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With Valentine’s Day almost here, your child will be awaiting the moment to exchange Valentine’s Day cards with their friends and classmates. Yet sometimes the thought of figuring out the number of cards and small gifts can be exhausting, especially when the winter holidays were only a month ago.

But there are ways to easily access Valentine’s Day cards that will look clever and special for your kid’s peers. By either simply printing cards from your laptop, gathering simple materials to make them, or picking them up at the store, you can have an assortment of Valentine’s Day cards for classmates.

Don’t get in a pickle. Grab your child’s Valentine’s classroom list and maybe some craft supplies, and we’ll get this done in a jiffy.

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With the holidays behind us and spring on the distant horizon, finding joy in the midst of cold and gray winter days can be a challenge. That’s why it’s important to look for ways to celebrate every day. Teachers across the country recognize this and may be gearing up for the 100th day of school. With just 80 days left of school instruction time, your kids are a little over halfway through their school year! Help commemorate this important milestone with one of these 100th-day-of-school ideas.

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Now, more than ever, parents are pushing their children to work harder and faster, thanks to the pandemic. Week after week, we see articles of reports of children who are “falling behind” and trying to “catch up” from years of pandemic responses: masking, remote learning, and isolation. Unfortunately, this kind of pressure can make children learn to loathe learning — babies included.

When I say babies, I’m referring mostly to toddlers, those children whose parents often love to shove flashcards in their faces, present them with glossy workbooks, and load “educational” apps onto devices. Then, they boast how smart their kids are when the child memorizes and recites ABCs and 123s, site words, and even random trivia.

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As an elementary school teacher, I’ve seen it with my own eyes: new kindergartners missing their mommies, loud, gasping sobs. Then, they open up their lunchboxes and the sight of their familiar favorites slowly chase their tears away.

Food has a special way of connecting people, like how a song or a scent can transport you back to a moment or person from your past. Send your little ones off to school with a comforting reminder of home with these healthy, simple, and fun lunch ideas for kindergartners.

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It’s the moment everyone has been waiting for. As a parent, you’ve been waiting for your kiddo to spend some time at school and foster their independence. And for your student, well, they’re excited to have different learning opportunities, and of course, make new friends.

You’ve practiced all the basics like their colors, ABCs, and 123s, but what do our kids really need to be prepared for kindergarten? While academics are important, there is so much more than just book lessons to be learned this first year; there’s a lot of social and emotional growth occurring as well as not forgetting to just have fun. We’ll help you break all of the elements down and share some tips on how to prepare your child for kindergarten.

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As soon as my oldest child was about 3, everyone started asking me where he was going to preschool. The truth was, I hadn’t even thought about where he’d go because it was never my intention to send him – I wanted him home with me for as long as possible. It was a decision I made with his father before we even conceived.

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