SACRAMENTO: This fall, more than 450,000 children in California will start kindergarten. To get the most out of all of the benefits of kindergarten, families should enroll their children now and use the next several months to help them get ready. First 5 California offers parents and caregivers the following top 10 tips to help prepare children for their first day of school and beyond:

1. Do your homework - so your kids can do theirs.
• The first thing parents should do is research kindergarten programs in their community to determine which one is best for their children.

2. Get a head start on enrollment.
• Parents can enroll children who turned 5 years old on or before December 2 of the school year in local kindergarten programs.
• It's important to enroll kids early to ensure there is space in your top choice.

3. Start a new chapter - read together.
• Research shows that children whose parents read to them enter kindergarten better prepared for learning.

4. Vaccinate before it's too late.
• By law, children cannot start kindergarten without up-to-date immunizations.
• Receiving required immunizations is an important step in preventing disease and helping children grow up healthy and ready to learn.

5. Brush Up Your Child's Smile
• More than half of kindergartners develop tooth decay, according to research by the Dental Health Foundation.
• Not only is visiting the dentist important for your child's health, but it is required by law.

6. Play teacher.
• Children equipped with basic skills, such as writing their names and using common school supplies, are often more confident on their first day of school and beyond.

7. Let the kids decide.
• Parents can help build decision-making skills by involving their children in deciding which outfit to wear and what nutritious snacks to pack.

8. Bring up the subject of school.
• Attending school should be an exciting new adventure for children, not a mystery. To help prepare them, parents can discuss with their children the activities they should expect in kindergarten.

9. Set a schedule.
• To help ease a child's transition, parents should set a schedule at home that closely resembles what the child's school schedule will be.

10. Take a school field trip.
• Parents can calm a child's nerves before the first day of kindergarten by taking him or her to visit the school to become familiar with the new surroundings.