As much as children love summer vacation, they equally dislike returning to school. Returning to school can be very tough for children. If you don't help them out, they could miss out on a lot of important things that happen when the school year begins. Here are a few tips for helping your kids get ready for returning to school after summer vacation. One of the toughest things for a child is waking up early after a long stretch of sleeping late. Therefore, it is a good idea to not let your children sleep too late during the summer to begin with. A few weeks before school starts, wake them up earlier. This will help get their bodies adjusted to the new schedule. By the time school starts, your kids won't feel as tired in the morning. It is also a good idea to start getting your kids excited about school ahead of time. Purchase some educational materials that are appropriate for the grade they are entering. Make sure they are fun things because children will probably be resentful if they think it is work. Games, books, and videos are a good idea. Not only will this refresh their minds in preparation to learn, but it will also get them excited about the year ahead. Another good tip is to get your children something new for the school year. Obviously, you want to consider money. Children don't need everything to be new every year. But if you get them a new outfit, they will feel like there is something different happening. That is exciting for children and adults alike. Think about if you start a new job. You want some new clothes to go along with that. The same goes for children. As the school year approaches, contact some parents of your child's classmates. Organize an event at a park or at someone's home. It is a good idea to get the kids interacting with each other before the school year starts. They are going to spend the entire school year with these kids, so it is important to help them feel comfortable with each other as early as possible.