Experts from West Virginia University's department of curriculum and instruction say there are some things you can do to prepare for the big day.

"It's never too early to start. The more advance notice the better. The way you do that is make it part of your normal family experience," said Joy Faini Saab, with the department of curriculum and instruction literacy studies at WVU.

Saab says simply taking your child to the school's playground or visiting their teacher before school starts is an easy way for your them to get used to the idea of spending time in that atmosphere.

When meeting your child's teacher, ask important questions, she says.

"It would be great to ask what kinds of things can you do to encourage my child's development in learning and their exploration of the world?" Saab said.

There are also some things that parents can do at home to foster the learning process before school starts and Saab says reading goes a long way.

"If you can spend 15 minutes every day reading to your child, that's exposing them to a listening vocabulary that's a much bigger vocabulary than they're using now," she said.

If a child is afraid of riding the bus, Saab says to read books about the subject and to relay positive experiences that older siblings have had on the bus.

"You can talk about that experience and anticipate it in a fun and relaxed manner."

Harrison County schools have an added measure to make sure the transition to kindergarten is a smooth one.

Teachers will hold an open house on Tuesday, August 25 for parents and students.

After that, teachers will spend the following three days doing home visits to interact with students in their home environment.

Kindergarten starts on August 31 in Harrison County.