Ask the Experts: August 2026

Each month in TulsaKids Magazine, local experts answer frequently asked questions from their area of expertise.

What emotional preparation steps should be part of every back-to-school checklist?

Back-to-school preparation often focuses on supplies and schedules, but emotional readiness is just as important. Children face new expectations, social dynamics and academic pressures, all of which can impact mental health. Here’s a helpful checklist to review before sending your student back to school:

• Talk openly about what’s coming. Ask children what they’re excited or nervous about and listen without minimizing their concerns. Normalizing mixed emotions helps kids feel understood and supported.
• Re-establish routines before school starts. Getting back into the routine of bedtimes, morning schedules and screen limits can ease anxiety by creating predictability.
• Consider enrichment activities, such as clubs or creative outlets, to support emotional balance. Be careful not to over-schedule, though. Allow time for your child to rest and decompress.
• Remind your kids where support exists. Let them know it’s OK to ask teachers, counselors or family members for help.

Remember, the back-to-school supplies list isn’t the only preparation needed this month. Emotional preparation is a key part of setting your students up for a healthy, successful school year.

844.458.2100

24/7 Crisis Line: 800×722.3611
grandmh.com

When should parents start flossing their child’s teeth, and how can they make it easier?

Flossing should start as soon as two teeth touch. Floss picks can make it quicker and easier, especially for wiggly kids. Making it part of the nightly routine, right before brushing, helps build the habit.

Dental Depot
7 locations across the Tulsa area
dentaldepot.net

There are so many activities for babies and toddlers. Why should swimming come first?

While sports like soccer, gymnastics and dance are wonderful for development, swimming teaches something even more important—life-saving water safety skills. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1–4, making swimming an essential life skill, not just another extracurricular activity.

At Miller Swim School, we believe every child deserves the confidence and skills to be safer in and around water. Our age-appropriate lessons focus on foundational water competency, including floating, breath control, safe entries and exits, and building confidence through consistent practice.

We’re also proud to be the National Drowning Prevention Alliance’s exclusive Platinum Learn-to-Swim provider in their Commitment to Safer Waters program. Partnering together, our mission is to reduce childhood drowning through education and awareness.

Before signing up for another sport, consider making swimming your child’s first. The skills they learn today can benefit them for a lifetime.

Want to learn more? Read our full blog, Why Swimming Should Be Your Child’s First Sport, for expert tips on building lifelong water safety and confidence.

Miller Swim School
4 Locations in Tulsa, South Tulsa, Jenks and Owasso
918.254.1988c
millerswimschool.com