Transitioning back to school can be hard. Whether it's a child's first day of kindergarten, a transition to a new school, navigating changes in course work, or just the end of the freedom of summer.
It's normal for children to feel anxious about these changes.
Open up the lines of communication: It's crucial to encourage your child to share their feelings about the upcoming school year. By acknowledging their concerns, making them feel heard, and reassuring them that it's normal to feel anxious about these changes, you're building a foundation of trust and support.
Establish and normalize routines: A regular sleep schedule, balanced meals, and dedicated time for homework and relaxation are more than just habits. They provide a stable framework for your child, helping them adapt to the rhythm of the school year and fostering a sense of security.
Help them feel prepared: Taking the initiative can significantly alleviate your child's anxiety. Meeting teachers, familiarizing with classrooms, and understanding the school layout can boost their confidence on the first day. Similarly, practicing morning routines or identifying school routes can help them feel more at ease.
Sprinkle in morale boosters: Make sure your child has downtime to tap into different hobbies or interests just for fun outside of extracurriculars. Sprinkling in events or days that have nothing to do with school can help them learn to balance and also let them have time to decompress from any stressors or anxiety.
Foster a space for trying, failing, and trying again: Try to empower your child to take charge of their own needs. For example, let them set up their backpack the night before, save questions until homework time ends, etc. Giving them a looser rein will help communicate your confidence in their abilities.
Take worries seriously: What may feel like "silly" worries to us may be very serious to your child. Help to validate their feelings and offer a space to talk about their fears - ask them open-ended, non-judgmental questions.
Highlight their past wins: Helping your child remember some of their favorite things about school - activities, classes, friends, teachers, etc. - can help them reminisce about memories that may help with negative thoughts or decreased stress. It can be just as simple as picking out a new backpack or reuniting with a friend they did not get to see all summer.
Handling Separation Anxiety For 2-8 Year Olds
Verbalize when they can expect to see you:
For younger kids, know their schedule - you can say “I will be here to pick you up right after PE,” or “I will be right here to pick you up at the bus stop.”
For preschool age, pack a token item that is yours (don’t expect it to come home) or a photo of your family into their backpack.
Address anxiety and worry through reading with some of our favorite books:
The Kissing Hand
The Invisible String
Ruby Finds A Worry
Label the emotion, validate, and make a confident statement:
“I know you are worried, and I know you can do this.”
Source: Child Mind Institute, 2023
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