Back-to-School Without the Stress: Tips for Students and Families
August marks the end and beginning of many things – the end of summer, the beginning of autumn celebrations (for those who like to start early), but most commonly, is the month where most children, teachers and other staff go back to school. An exciting time for many can also be stressful and anxiety-including times for others, especially if your child is attending school for the first time. Along these same lines, it could also be challenging for those who are entering a transition year (elementary to middle school, middle school to high school and so on) or if your child is starting a new year altogether. While there are many possibilities behind the “new school year worries” there are also ways to support your child and yourself before the school year begins.
One tip is to develop a routine, starting at least a week or two before the start of school. This could look like waking the kids earlier, preparing breakfast, packing lunches, and essentially everything that you may do when the kids start school. This also includes creating a nighttime routine (if they don’t have one already), such as helping them adjust to an earlier bedtime and keeping that time consistent, as well as avoiding electronics before bed to ensure higher quality sleep. Good sleep is crucial for children, as sleep deprivation can lead to absenteeism from school, as well as poor concentration, decreased motivation and attention span and an overall impact on healthy brain development.
Similar to creating a routine to prepare for the new year is taking your child to visit the school, classroom and teacher before school starts. Most (if not all) schools have orientation, both for new and returning students, as well as parents/guardians, just so everyone can get a feel of the school layout, as well as meet their teacher. This helps the child get a better idea of what to expect and helps you ask their teacher any questions you may have.
Another important tip is to not only listen to your child’s worries but also validate them. Even if this is not a new school setting for your child, their teacher, main classroom and classes themselves will be new and starting anything new or unknown can be scary. Creating a safe environment where your child can come to you with questions and/or fears is important, even if you don’t have an exact answer. Along with listening to your child’s worries, it is also a good idea to listen to your own worries and make sure not to transfer them onto your child. Ideas on how to avoid this would be to practice self-reflection or being open about your worries to others, such as your partner, friend, parent or therapist. Also, making sure to practice self-care during all of this and finding ways to best manage your stress can also help and will ultimately benefit both you and your child(ren).
As mentioned, back to school worries are common and will most likely go away with the first few days or weeks, but what if they persist longer than that, while gradually getting worse? If this is the case, it is possible that your child is experiencing something more than the “casual” worries and could be dealing with something like anxiety disorder instead. Signs of this could include having difficulty getting along with family or making friends at school, avoiding normal activities, and physical symptoms, such as stomachaches, headaches and extreme fatigue. While the latter, physical symptoms could be due to a health issue, such as a cold or the flu, it could also be due to anxiety about school (or anxiety in general). If this is the case, it could be a good idea to talk to your child’s teacher(s), school counselor and/or school psychologist, as well as seeking outside help from a therapist.
Going back to school (or starting school for the first time) can be both fun and nerve-wracking, for both children and parents/guardians alike, but the good news is there are ways to prepare and make the transition easier for everyone!
Staff Blogger: Mollie Clupper
Mollie Clupper works for MHA as a Communications and Support Specialist. Using her own experiences, she wants to help bring awareness and end the stigma surrounding mental health. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, drinking coffee, and spending time with loved ones.