Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)

Social Media Toolkit

Back to School

It’s time to gear up for another school year! There are many ways to prepare for it and this toolkit is designed to help families with important reminders for a safe and successful start. Topics covered in this toolkit include:

School Day Routines
Communication with Teachers and Students
Driving Safety for Teens
Pedestrian and Bike Safety

Keep an eye on the Get Parenting Tips Facebook and Instagram feeds as well for more social media updates.

Sample Social Media Posts

Hashtags: #BackToSchool #DrivingSafety #BikeSafety #PedestrianSafety #TexasHeat #GetParentingTips #ParentingTips #Parenting #TexasParents #TexasFamilies #TexasKids

Week One:

No matter how old your child is, having consistent daily routines will help everyone succeed during the school year. Learn more tips at: https://tinyurl.com/GPTNewSchoolYear
Think about how much time you and your child will need in the morning. Start with what time you must be at your job or school, and work backward to make a plan so you won’t feel rushed. Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/GPTNewSchoolYear
Planning bedtime is important for a successful start to the morning. DYK:
- Most elementary age children need to go to bed around 7:30 or 8 p.m.
- Doctors recommend that school-age children get 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night.
DYK: studies have shown that reading to your child each day helps with brain development and improves school performance. Whether you have a kindergartener or an older child, make time to snuggle up and read books together!

Week Two:

It’s exciting to hear your child talk about their first day of school. Make sure your conversations with them—and their teachers—continue throughout the school year! Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/GPTNewSchoolYear
Think about how much time you and your child will need in the morning. Start with what time you must be at your job or school, and work backward to make a plan so you won’t feel rushed. Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/GPTNewSchoolYear
Asking open-ended questions encourages your child to talk to you about school, their friends, and their activities. Try these!
- What was your favorite part of today?
- What is the best part of being a kindergartener?
- Tell me something funny you saw today!
- What did you talk about in science class today?
- Who is the funniest person in your class?
DYK: studies have shown that family participation in school events helps children learn and increases their enjoyment at school? Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/GPTNewSchoolYear
Some kids do their assignments on their own, while others might need help staying focused. Learn how to work with your child on assignments: https://tinyurl.com/GPTNewSchoolYear

Week Three:

Start of the school year means teens will drive themselves to class! Learn how to keep everyone safe on the roads: tinyurl.com/ZonesOfTeenDriving
Many teen drivers make mistakes they could have avoided. Learn more about the 8 danger zones for teen drivers and how you can help your teen avoid them: tinyurl.com/ZonesOfTeenDriving
In-vehicle technologies can help keep teen drivers safe on the road. Some helpful features you may want to consider for your teen’s vehicle include:
- Speed limit recognition warns drivers when they’re speeding.
- Adaptive cruise control adjusts a vehicle’s speed to keep a safe distance from the rear of another one.
- Automatic emergency braking activates when necessary.
- Lane-keeping assistance beeps to alert drivers when they stray from their lane.
Before they head out on the road, make sure your teen always covers the checklist below to help keep them safe and give you peace of mind:
- Turn on the do not disturb feature on their phone or store in the glovebox.
- Make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.
- Turn down the music volume or turn it off.
- Look in the rear view and side mirrors, adjust them if necessary, and scan 360 degrees before moving the vehicle.

Week Four:

Learning to ride a bike is an important part of growing up. Practicing pedestrian safety and bicycle safety skills with your child can give you peace of mind and be lots of fun for everyone. Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/GPTBikeSafety
Use this bike safety checklist before every ride!
- Make sure your child’s helmet and bike fit their body properly.
- Check bike tires for proper inflation.
- Tuck in shoelaces and pant legs so they don’t get caught in the bike chain.
- Strap items securely to a bike rack behind the seat or put them in a backpack or bike basket.
How do you know if your child is ready to walk or bike to school alone? Check out these seven questions to make an informed decision: https://tinyurl.com/GPTBikeSafety
To help drivers, other cyclists, and pedestrians see your child, have them wear brightly colored clothing, backpacks, hats, or jackets. If possible, have your child wear items with reflective materials or add reflective tape. Learn more safety tips here: https://tinyurl.com/GPTBikeSafety