Back to School in Mohave County: Safety Tips, Time-Saving Ideas and Resources for Parents
Backpacks can become surprisingly heavy once textbooks, notebooks, water bottles, electronics and other supplies are added.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises choosing backpacks with wide, padded shoulder straps and recommends keeping backpack weight generally within about 10% to 20% of a child's body weight. Parents should periodically remove unnecessary items and place heavier items closer to the center of the back. (HealthyChildren.org)
If your child is leaning forward significantly while carrying the backpack or complaining about back, neck or shoulder pain, it may be time to lighten the load.
Arizona Heat Still Matters
Back-to-school does not mean the summer heat is over.
Parents should make sure children have access to water and understand the importance of hydration, especially if they walk, wait outside for buses or participate in sports.
Never leave a child inside a parked vehicle — even for a short period of time.
Parents of student athletes should also pay attention to excessive fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea or unusual behavior during hot-weather activities and contact a medical professional when appropriate.
Time-Saving Tips for Busy Parents
School mornings can become hectic quickly. A few minutes of preparation the night before can make a major difference.
The Night-Before Rule
Before everyone goes to bed:
Lay out clothing.
Pack backpacks.
Charge school devices.
Sign paperwork.
Fill water bottles and refrigerate them.
Prepare as much of lunch as possible.
Put shoes, keys and bags near the door.
This eliminates the morning search for missing shoes, permission slips and chargers.
Create a School Command Center
Choose one location in the house for everything school related.
Use it for:
Backpacks
Calendars
School notices
Permission slips
Lunch menus
Sports schedules
Library books
Important school phone numbers
A simple basket, wall calendar and folder can prevent paperwork from disappearing around the house.
Create a Five-Minute Sunday Check
Once a week, check the school calendar and look for:
Early-release days, parent-teacher conferences, spirit days, tests, sports, field trips and upcoming school closures.
Five minutes of planning can prevent a lot of last-minute scrambling.
Parents should also download or bookmark their individual school district's official parent portal and calendar.
For example, Kingman Unified School District provides ParentVUE and online enrollment resources for families, while Lake Havasu Unified School District maintains its academic calendars and district information online. (Kingman Unified School District)
Parents Need to Take Care of Themselves, Too
Back-to-school season can be just as exhausting for parents as it is for children.
Between work, school drop-offs, appointments, homework, sports, meals and keeping the household running, parents can easily put themselves last. But taking care of yourself is also part of taking care of your family.
Parents should remember to:
Get enough rest whenever possible.
Eat regular meals and stay hydrated.
Ask for help from a spouse, family member, friend or trusted support person when needed.
Give yourself time to decompress after a stressful day.
Keep your own medical and mental-health appointments.
Avoid expecting every school morning or evening routine to be perfect.
Make time for something you enjoy, even if it is only a few quiet minutes.
Speak up when you are feeling overwhelmed instead of trying to handle everything alone.
Children often pick up on the stress of the adults around them. Creating a calmer home routine can benefit the entire family.
It is also okay to simplify. Dinner does not have to be elaborate every night, every school event does not have to be perfect, and forgetting something occasionally does not mean the entire routine has failed.
Parents are part of the back-to-school transition too.
Taking care of your children is important, but making sure you are physically and emotionally able to keep showing up for them matters as well.
Mohave County Resources for Parents
Back-to-school expenses and family needs can add up quickly. Families should know there are local and statewide resources available.
Mohave County Library District
The Mohave County Library District operates locations throughout the county, including Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Golden Valley, Dolan Springs, Fort Mohave and other communities, along with a Bookmobile. (Mohave County Library)
Libraries can be useful for families needing books, computers, internet access, study space, printing and educational activities.
The library system also offers children's and teen programming. Kingman library programming, for example, includes free activities for children and teens, and the Bullhead City branch has offered free early-childhood play programming for families. (Trumba)
2-1-1 Arizona
Families who are struggling but don't know where to start can dial 2-1-1.
211 Arizona connects residents with local resources involving food, housing, financial assistance, family and children's services, employment, health services and other community programs. As of August 2026, its phone assistance is available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, in English and Spanish. (2-1-1 Arizona)
From outside Arizona, the service lists 877-211-8661 as an alternative number. (2-1-1 Arizona)
Mohave County Public Health
The Mohave County Department of Public Health provides a number of health-related services for local families. (Mohave County)
Its immunization program offers routine vaccines for children and adults, including low- or no-cost options for eligible families. Parents can also access their child's official Arizona vaccination records through Arizona's MyIR system. (Mohave County)
Parents should contact their child's school or healthcare provider regarding current school health and immunization requirements.
Mohave County WIC
Families with infants or young children may also qualify for the Women, Infants and Children program, better known as WIC.
Mohave County operates WIC locations in Kingman, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City, providing nutrition-related services and support for qualifying families. (Mohave County)
Current local contacts include:
Kingman WIC: 928-753-0794 ext. 4334Bullhead City WIC: 928-758-0722Lake Havasu City WIC: 928-453-0716 (Mohave County)
Check on Your Child — Not Just Their Grades
Parents naturally pay attention to report cards, homework and attendance, but a successful school year is about more than academics.
Ask children:
Who did you sit with today?
Did anything make you uncomfortable?
Was anyone mean to you or someone else?
What was the best part of your day?
What was the hardest part?
Sometimes a child who answers "fine" when asked how school was will tell you much more when asked a specific question.
Pay attention to sudden changes in sleeping, eating, friendships, school performance or a child's desire to attend school.
Mohave County Public Health also operates a Behavioral Health Team focused on areas including mental-health awareness, coping, communication, resilience, prevention education and collaboration with schools and community providers. (Mohave County)
Give Everyone Time to Adjust
The first few weeks of school can be difficult for children and parents.
Bedtimes change. Morning routines change. Children meet new teachers and classmates. Homework returns. Sports and extracurricular activities begin filling calendars again.
Not every morning will go perfectly.
Prepare what you can, establish routines and adjust when something isn't working.
Most importantly, make sure your child knows that home remains a safe place to talk about what happens during their school day.
Back-to-school season isn't only about new backpacks, pencils and clothes.
It's about preparing our children to learn, stay safe and succeed — while making sure parents know they don't have to navigate every challenge alone.
The Mohave Insider Stay Informed. Stay Involved.
Resource availability, schedules, eligibility requirements and program information can change. Families should contact schools, agencies and organizations directly to verify current services before visiting.
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