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Dealing with clutter, bullies, and reluctant readers.

I don't feel like we're ready to dive into a new school year quite yet—not with so much of last year's clutter still kicking around. Any tips on convincing my daughter to get rid of some of the school-related clutter that tends to accumulate in her dresser drawers and her closet?

It’s amazing how much stuff kids manage to squirrel away at the end of each school year—notebooks, worksheets, artwork, and projects galore, to say nothing of the odd dirty gym sock or half-eaten sandwich. Here are some tips on encouraging her to part with some of last year's school treasures and trash.

Get all the clutter out in the open. Encourage her to dump all her school-related paraphernalia into a giant mountain on her bedroom floor so that she can quickly eyeball everything she’s accumulated. You can’t do battle with the enemy unless you know where the enemy is hiding.
Provide a recycling bin for the realms of paper she’s likely to discard, a garbage can for the mystery items that aren’t fit for man or beast, and a plastic container with a snap-on lid, for storing her treasures.
Offer to take her shopping for school supplies and other back-to-school essentials once she’s made room for the new gear. That should provide a bit of an incentive for making it through Operation De-Clutter.

My six year old was bullied at his old school. We moved during the summer, however, so he'll be starting at a new school. What can I do to help him get off to the best possible start there?

It’s always tough to be the new kid. And if you were bullied at your previous school, you can’t help but worry if history is going to repeat itself at your new school, too. Here are a few tips on what you can do to ease the transition for your son.

See if you can arrange for him to visit his new school ahead of time. While you’re there, give your child’s teacher or principal a quick heads up about his recent bullying experiences and ask how the new school handles bullying. You want your son to hear that his new school is serious about putting a stop to bullying.
Once school starts, look for opportunities to play an active role in your child’s school. That means volunteering to accompany your child’s class on field trips, to help with fundraisers, and whatever else your schedule can handle. The more involved you are, the better you’ll be able to judge how happy your son is and how well he’s settling into his new routine. Of course, there’s an added perk to being this involved: the teachers at the school will have a greater opportunity to stop you in the hall to chat about your son’s latest triumphs on the friendship front (music to your ears!)

I know it’s important to encourage kids to read, but my 12-year-old son hates reading. Any tips?

Here are a few strategies that have worked for other parents who have sons who are (or were) reluctant readers.

Focus on your son’s interests and then try to find ways to tie those interests back to reading. If, for example, your son is fascinated by video games, skateboarding, and computers, look for books and magazines that zero in on these topics.
If you come across an article that your son might enjoy (e.g., a trade involving his favorite sports team or the release date for a much-anticipated video game), act as his personalized clipping service. Email him the link or clip the article out of the newspaper and leave it at his spot at the dinner table.
Make sure your son sees the practical applications of reading. If you’re planning a family trip, ask your son to help you research the attractions you should hit while you’re winding your way through various cities and towns.