As the end of August approaches, many kids become wary of what is coming: a new school year. With new teachers, new subjects, and new classmates each year, it is common for children to become anxious about the unknowns awaiting them as they go back to school. Some anxiety for the school year is normal, and as a parent there are things you can do to get your children feeling ready for school.
Johns Hopkins Medicine offers these five tips to ease back-to-school anxiety.
- Start preparing children for the transition by getting back to routines, such as a realistic bedtime and selecting tomorrow’s clothes.
- Arrange play dates with one or more familiar peers before school starts. Research shows that the presence of a familiar peer during school transitions can improve children’s academic and emotional adjustment.
- Validate the child’s worry by acknowledging that, like any new activity, starting school can be hard but soon becomes easy and fun.
- Come up with a prize or a rewarding activity that the child may earn for separating from Mom and Dad to attend school.
Starting a new school year can be scary for many kids, especially after they’ve had a fun summer with their families. Sometimes when kids are moving from one school to another, or from elementary school to middle school, or middle school to high school, the transition becomes more stressful. Try practicing some of these tips, and remind your children of all the things they can be excited for in a new school year!
If your child experiences anxiety symptoms that persist beyond the first few weeks of school and that seem to be excessive, consult an expert, says Johns Hopkins Children’s Center psychologist Courtney Keeton.