Last week’s blog, Understanding Back-to-School Anxiety: Signs and Symptoms helped us to begin to think about and understand better the different ways children experience anxiety as they prepare to return to school.
In this week’s post, we’ll dive deeper into specific behaviors and offer practical tips on how to support your child during this transition period. Let’s explore how to recognize regressive behaviors and other signs of anxiety, and learn effective strategies to help your child feel more secure and confident as the new school year approaches.
- Talk About It: Open communication can help your child express their worries and feel understood. Encourage them to share their feelings and listen without judgment.
- TIP: This can be hard if the worry is very high and might require you to just sprinkle it in throughout the week. With statements like, “ I wonder what colour shoes you might like to buy for indoors this year” or I think we need a new water bottle, do you want a straw or spout? At times being direct and check in are also important, “How are you feeling about highschool this year”.
- Establish Routines: A consistent routine can provide a sense of security and make the transition smoother. Start adjusting bedtime and wake-up times a few weeks before school starts. That can include bath/shower routines and beginning to talk about extra curricular activities for the fall.
- Tip: Put a chart on the wall to help provide a visual reminder. For younger children use pictures paired with words. Pinterest has all kinds of really great downloadable charts
- Practice Relaxation Techniques: Mindfulness exercises, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques can help reduce anxiety. Practice these together to make them a fun and bonding activity.
- Tip: Here is a great youtube to help with breathing for kids Guided Square Breathing for Children
- Prepare Together: Involve your child in back-to-school preparations in a fun and engaging way. Let them pick out their school supplies and plan their first-day outfit. This can help them feel more in control and excited about the new school year.
- TIP: During the last week of August and you maybe able to arrange a walk-through of the school. Go play on the playground during the month of August to help that transition back. It could be a great place for a play date as the summer starts to slip away.
Small pick to the side?
- Validate Their Feelings: Acknowledge that their feelings are valid. Let them know that it’s okay to feel nervous and that many kids feel the same way. Try saying, “ It sounds like you are feeling sad about the summer being over and maybe a bit worried about what this year might be like”. “ It’s Ok to feel sad and a bit worried about that”. Telingyour child it is going to be fine without listening to them and will not make those worries or feelings go away. Validate and then ask them what might help them to feel better.
- TIP: Here is a great video that shows us why validating and listening matters and can help.
- Seek Professional Help: If your child’s anxiety seems overwhelming, consider talking to a counselor or therapist for additional support. Professional help can provide strategies and tools to manage anxiety effectively. At our clinic we use a combination of CBT and mindfulness strategies to help kids learn how to cope with the big feelings.
Managing back-to-school anxiety can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can help your child feel more secure and confident as the new school year approaches. By talking openly, establishing routines, practicing relaxation techniques, preparing together, validating their feelings, and seeking professional help if needed, you can make this transition smoother for your child.
Next week, we’ll discuss “How to Speak to the School About Your Child’s Anxiety.” We’ll explore effective ways to communicate with teachers and school staff, and share tips on creating a supportive environment for your child. Stay tuned!
