With summer winding down, most kids are either back in school or soon will be. (I have to admit, not having to go to school is one of my favorite things about being an adult.) As school begins, stress levels mount — for children and their parents — leaving the door wide open for Adultitis. We collected a number of articles from our archives that will help you cope with the increase in busyness and give you some things to think about as the new school year kicks off.

• 4 Ways to Prevent Back-to-School Blues | A post about making the transition back to school a bit more palatable.
• The Root of the Problem | A post on how to REALLY help kids deal with stress.
• Ignore What Mom Said | A post challenging the conventional advice you received from Mom and your teachers.
• Do You Suffer From Sunday Night Dread? | A post about the icky feeling you get on Sunday nights during the school year (and what to do about it).
• 5 Ways to Prevent a Stressful School Year | A post about exactly what the title says.
• Yep, Tag is Way Too Dangerous | A post on the largely unknown dangers of a classic childhood game.
• The Price of Losing Free Play | A post about the bad things that happen when we don’t let kids have time to play.

If this whole talk about going back to school makes you feel a little nostalgic, check out this “Old School” hopscotch t-shirt and some other fun apparel that pays tribute to your favorite schoolyard games. Red Rover, anyone?

Just You & Me Day: This is an idea from my creative sister-in-law who has made wonderful back-to-school memories with her school-age kids. She schedules a day to take each one out individually for their own special outing. They get to pick out all of their school supplies and shop for new duds. Lunch is the child’s pick, along with a special activity of his/her choice. This year they went mini-golfing. The kids really look forward to it, and I know their mom does too. Even though the vibe would feel much different, this idea would work great for older kids too. Maybe catch a matinee together.

Shocking Locks : The start of a new school year is a great time to suggest the idea of doing something extreme with your child’s look. How about a cool new style, cut, or color for that kid that needs a little pick-me-up? Sometimes changing something physically that you have control over can help the transition of change that is happening externally that is out of your control. So, support the new ‘do. It’ll always grow out, and it sure beats a tattoo.

First Day Feast: Add a little fun to the first day of school by surprising your kids with something out of the ordinary. Greet them in the morning with a fancy breakfast. Decorate their chairs with helium balloons and fabric. Adorn them with paper crowns. Put linens on the table, along with a vase of fresh flowers. Light a candle, have music playing, and of course serve their favorite breakfasts. When your seven-year-old drinks her orange juice out of a wine glass, she’ll definitely have a smile on her face, and a fun story to share with her new teacher. For high schoolers, you can still have their favorite music playing, but maybe surprise them with an iTunes gift card under their juice at breakfast and their ultimate dessert waiting for them when they get home.

The Last Hurrah: Pick a weekend in August before school starts to do something special that your kids love. Have a backyard camp-out, go to a museum, take a big bike ride, visit a water park, host a slumber party, or spend the day at the zoo. Once the busyness of the school year starts these sorts of festivities get pushed off. So, live it up big… just remember big doesn’t have to always mean expensive.

P.S. Here are some organizational tips to help your school year start stress-free.