Supporting Anxiety in Children as They Return to School
When August rolls around, it is time, to get ready for the return to school. Here are a few suggestions to make the transition smoother.
Over the summer, take your child to their school playground to explore. When they come to school in the fall, they will associate the space with fun memories. “Remember that cool slide on the playground?”
Teachers need to become acquainted with many students, all at once. Email your child’s teacher a brief description of your son or daughter, in a kind of 2 minute elevator speech. Share what your child enjoys, like, “Dillon has read every Harry Potter book”, or “Jenny loves arts and crafts”. Include their strengths and challenges, like “Ashley is very kind, but shy and needs encouragement to join in socially.” Include the types of supports that help your child learn best, such as “Alex is a visual learner and having a printed schedule and written directions is helpful.” This will give the teacher insights about your child’s needs and will make it easier for them to know how to best approach your child. Teachers really appreciate it when parents take time to do this.
Review the state of your kids’ backpacks and lunchboxes to see if they need to be replaced. If they do, give kids the chance to choose one they like, which will give them something to look forward to enjoying at school.
Reestablish routines. Start having your child get their clothes ready the night before to make mornings easier. Several days ahead, get them back into the routine of going to bed earlier, so they can adjust gradually. Make a checklist of things that have to be done in the morning, and post it in a helpful place to keep everyone on track.
As soon as you find out who will be in your child’s class, plan some play dates with them. It is always easier to walk in to a new class with a familiar face.
If your child struggles with anxiety about the return to school, share with them that the first couple days are challenging for everyone, but over time, it will get easier and easier. Remind them of the things that are familiar, like the school building, the playground, the kids that they know, and the routine.
It might be helpful to know that physiologically, there is no difference in our bodies when we experience anxiety and when we experience excitement. You can reframe what they’re feeling as excitement. To help children focus on positive things, ask them to think of themselves as detectives looking for clues for the best things about the new school year.
A great picture book to read with children over the summer is “First Day Jitters” by Julie Danneberg. It reveals that not just kids have worries about the first day of school. It is really humorous and has a surprise ending.
For more support if your child is experiencing anxiety, depression or other challenges, please feel free to contact Crossroads Family Counseling Center to talk to one of our therapists.
About the Author: Judy Bender has over 20 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia. She has worked with children and adolescents in a variety of settings, including Johns Hopkins University Hospital’s Child Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics and other group practice settings.