October 6, 2022

October 6, 2022

Tips For Reducing Back To School Anxiety

The transition from summer vacation back to school is more challenging for some children than others. In fact, it can go beyond just a little worry for some kids, becoming a source of high anxiety and stress that can last for weeks into the school year.

Of course, some anxiety and stress when going back to school are normal. After all, there are a lot of kids who may be uncertain about starting a new school year. But what causes school anxiety? And how can we help kids combat it? Here are some tips for reducing back-to-school anxiety for your children this fall and beyond.

Is Your Child Anxious?
Before you learn how to deal with school anxiety, it’s a good idea to know what signs to look for so you can spot back-to-school anxiety in your child. After all, most kids are not going to tell you they’re anxious – they may not even understand how they’re feeling themselves.

Often, the following red flags can clue you into the fact that your child is having some anxiety issues related to school:

  • Avoidance of activities that are usually normal to them, both in and out of school
  • Physical symptoms such as problems sleeping, tiredness, and stomachaches
  • Problems getting along with friends or others in the family
  • Acting out when separated from parents/when going to school

If you notice these symptoms, you may want to explore ways to help ease your child’s back-to-school anxiety.

How To Help A Child With Anxiety About School
You’re probably wondering, “How do I calm my kids’ anxiety about school?” It’s a good question, because most parents are not psychological experts. However, they are experts when it comes to their own children – a parent knows their child best, after all.

To help your child, you can start a process before school begins and continue doing things as the school year moves along to ease their anxiety. You may not need to take all of these steps – just the ones that feel right to you.

One to two weeks before the beginning of the school year, you should:

  • Work on your child’s sleep schedule – If your child got out of their normal sleep routine over the summer, work with them each day before the start of school to get back into a routine. Roll back the clock 15 to 30 minutes each day for going to bed and waking up.
  • Ask for their help – Let your child help you think about their lunches and other plans for the first week of school. This gets them involved and gives them a little control, even if it’s only over something small.
  • Make a list – Create a list of school supplies and shop together for them. Checking things off the list can be fun and can help ease their fears.

A couple of days before school starts, you should:

  • Go over your morning routine – Get your child up, have breakfast, and walk, bike, or drive to school. If they’re going to take the bus, go over the bus route so they know what to expect.
  • Tour the school – If the school is new to your child, arrange for a tour if one isn’t already offered. This allows them to familiarize themselves with the new place and get more comfortable before the official start of the school term.
  • Choose outfits – Give your child control over the clothes they wear for the first few days of school.
  • Pack a schoolbag – Work with your child to pack their schoolbag, and put in a comfort item if they are allowed to have it to help assuage their fears.

On the first day of school, you should:

  • Have a good breakfast – Make the day special and kick it off with their favorite breakfast.
  • Buddy up – If it’s possible, have your child travel to school with a friend for the first few days. This can help them to feel less scared. If they take the bus, consider driving them for the first few days so they can get used to school before tackling the bus.
  • Praise them – Kids need praise, so make sure to give your child adequate praise for how brave they are. Plan a fun activity or meal at the end of the first school week to celebrate them and their bravery!

Things To Avoid
If you’re attempting to reduce anxiety in your child about school, it’s a good idea to avoid these things:

  • Don’t brush their fears off – What may seem silly to you is a big deal to them.
  • Don’t just tell them everything will be OK or that they need to grow up – Kids need to feel as if their voice is heard to help reduce anxiety.
  • Avoid a negative atmosphere – This will only serve to increase your child’s feelings of anxiety and fear.
  • Give your child space to figure things out for themselves – Assure them that you’re there for support.
  • Don’t get frustrated with your child – if things are taking longer than you think they should, remember to be patient and understanding.

In many ways, anxiety is a normal part of your child’s development. It can even be helpful in some situations. Anxiety becomes a problem with it negatively impacts a person’s everyday behavior and mood, or it persists over a period of time and causes them to avoid things for reasons that aren’t realistic.

The bottom line is that you can help to shape your child’s approach to school anxiety by recognizing it and working with them to tackle it and move forward. Since school isn’t the only anxiety-inducing situation they will face over the years, this will help them for the rest of their lives.

Featured image by Anima Visual on Unsplash