As summer comes to an end and your family begins gearing up for the upcoming school year, you may find that your child doesn’t seem excited to participate in all the back-to-school preparations. This hesitation can sometimes be a sign of back-to-school anxiety. In this blog, we’ll share some practical tips to help your child feel emotionally and mentally prepared to head back into the classroom.
What Does Back-to-School Anxiety Look Like?
Anxiety can look different in every child. Being shy or quiet doesn’t always mean your child is having a hard time. Here are some behaviors that may be a sign of anxiety:
- Emotional outbursts
- Clinginess
- Quick anger
- Avoidance
- Trouble sleeping
If you’re noticing some of these signs, don’t worry. There’s a lot you can do to help your child feel more at ease.
Teach Healthy Coping Skills
It’s completely normal for kids to feel nervous about starting a new school year, and it can be a hard feeling for them to put into words. Below are some tips to help your child cope:
- Strengthen Communication Skills: Some children struggle verbalizing their feelings. Share a time you felt nervous and how you worked through it, then invite them to put their own worries into words.
- Try Journaling: Offer calming outlets like journaling to sort through their thoughts, reading for a mental break, or creative activities like music or drawing.
- Practice Positive Self-talk: Encourage them to practice speaking kindly about themselves. Remind them that they are capable of getting through challenging moments.
- Use Grounding Techniques: If your child is feeling especially overwhelmed, grounding exercises can work really well to help them calm down and refocus.
- Focus on the Fun: It’s important to be able to find the positive in any situation. What is something they are excited about? (It can totally be the cafeteria pizza!)
Make Back-to-School Prep into Fun Activities
School supply shopping is a great way to get your child excited for back-to-school. Encourage them to help make a list of what they need, what they want, what they can personalize, and what would make the school year feel a little more ‘them.’ Then, plan a day to scour a store (or two) to purchase supplies together. Once the supplies are gathered, you can keep the momentum going by setting up a study space at home or organizing their room for the new routine ahead.
Help Your Child Know What to Expect
Change can be difficult for some children. Help them feel prepared by learning what a typical school day might look like for them. Then create a fun daily routine to prevent stressful mornings, lost lunchboxes, and forgotten water bottles. To build that routine, it helps to know how their school day is structured. Try to find out a few details, such as:
- When does the school day start and end?
- What time is lunch?
- When do they have recess?
- Where and at what time does the bus pick up and drop off?
- Is there time set aside for homework or quiet activities?
- What extracurricular activities and electives can they participate in?
Even a general sense of what to expect, without all the exact details yet, can go a long way in easing your child’s stress around the unknown.
Back-to-school season is a big part of your child’s educational journey. Your support makes a world of difference to a child struggling with unease. Remind them that change can be a good thing. It’s a chance to experience new people, places, and opportunities.
As the first day approaches, be mindful of your child’s emotional state. Check in with them often and invite them to share their worries and apprehensions. Try your best to understand as they communicate. Have conversations and be transparent about any changes that may come up between now and the beginning of school. Most importantly, do your best to stay encouraging and supportive to create a smooth, relaxed transition back to school.
At Childcare Network, we understand that transitions like these can feel just as big for parents as they do for children. Our teachers and staff help little ones navigate new routines, build confidence, and feel comfortable in their environment every day. If you’re looking for a supportive place to help your child grow and thrive this school year, find a school near you to learn more.
If you have concerns about the severity of your child’s anxiety or stress, please reach out to a medical professional.
