The countdown for parents has started to get their children off to school on a healthy foot this year.

As director of the Pediatric Emergency Department at St. Barnabas Hospital, Dr. David Listman says kids need to be up to date on all their vaccines and have the proper school forms filled out.

Listman recommends that parents start getting their kids to bed early and up early before the first day of school. For students on medication, it's also important that they know when they're supposed to take it when not at home.