Why Does Back-to-School Anxiety Happen? | Five Tips for Back-to-School Anxiety |
The Takeaway
Overview
Returning to school after a summer of fun activities can be a big change for kids. For some, it’s an exciting time of year when they see all their friends again, while for others, such as when starting to go to a new school, the experience can be dreaded.
And let’s be clear about one other thing: Parents can also feel anxiety and uncertainty about their kids going back to school, which may stem from how their child will handle their anxieties about starting the new school year.
So, if you notice that your kid is experiencing more than just normal back-to-school jitters, here are some helpful hints to make this transition easier for everyone.
Why Does Back-to-School Anxiety Happen?
Everyone can experience anxiety. It all comes down to that fear of the unknown that we humans have.
Children and teens tend to worry a lot about social spaces and interactions. Fitting in, friends, potential bullying, new teachers, or being separated from their parents can all create enough uncertainty for the young mind to wander.
Merely feeling uncertain about the new school year is no cause for concern. Still, suppose your child exhibits irritability, avoidance of everyday activities, abnormal sleeping patterns, or complains of physical symptoms, such as tiredness and stomach aches. In that case, it may be time to pay more attention to the situation.
Five Tips for Back-to-School Anxiety
1) Preparation is Key: Think of your regular school-year routines, like waking up at a more appropriate time, planning when to eat, and having more structure around the day, and start applying these activities about a week or two before school starts to let your child slowly readjust. Sometimes, it helps to bring out school supplies as visual cues for increased awareness of the new school year.
2) Back at the Schoolyard: Separation anxiety in school-age children is very common during back-to-school time.[1] A good practice to avoid this nervousness is to begin acclimatizing your kid to their new environment. Visit the school together, play at their playground, try to look inside the classrooms through windows, or if the building is open – go inside and walk through the halls.
3) Sticking with the Familiar: Arrange play dates with your kids’ school friends if you can. On the first day of school, it helps significantly to see a familiar face and avoid feeling alone in a potentially stressful situation. And remember, play is a crucial part of your child’s development. It enhances brain structure and function and promotes executive functioning.[2]
4) Skip the Sugar: For an impending situation that causes your child to be anxious before it happens, it’s best to stay away from easy reassurances such as, “Don’t worry, everything will be ok” Validate their concerns and let them know that although it may be hard to start something new or something you’ve been away from for a while, it can soon become fun and rewarding.
5) A Mirror of Confidence: Parents can also be more stressed at back-to-school time. It’s difficult to hand over responsibilities to teachers and not be there for your kids during an anxious period. Remember, everyone fears the unknown and is generally uncomfortable with a lot of change let alone both happening simultaneously! Your kids take cues from you, so the more confidence and comfort you can exude around this time of year, the more trust your kids will have when starting a new year of learning.
The Takeaway
Some anxious feelings are to be expected in the face of change, especially when it comes to starting a new school year or even a new school.
With some easy tips that focus on behaviors before the start of the school year, you can mitigate many of these negative feelings.
And don’t forget to praise and reward your child for their braveness after getting through that first day back in class! It can help set the stage for a successful and less stressful school year.
References:
- Vaughan, J., Coddington, J. A., Ahmed, A. H., & Ertel, M. (2017). Separation Anxiety Disorder in School-Age Children: What Health Care Providers Should Know. Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners, 31(4), 433–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2016.11.003
- Yogman, M., Garner, A., Hutchinson, J., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R. M., COMMITTEE ON PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH, & COUNCIL ON COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA (2018). The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children. Pediatrics, 142(3), e20182058. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2058
