Back to School Anxiety

It is that time of year again! Fall is here and it is back to school. With back to school comes a goodbye to sleeping in and beach days, and hello to getting up early, structured days and routine, and potentially more stress and anxiety. The transition back to school can be a stressful time for children and parents alike.

Many times back to school causes anxiety for kids who do not know what to expect with a new routine; transition and change. Some back to school jitters are normal. Worrying about schedules, homework, friends and new teachers is all normal, and is not cause for concern.

Here are some tips to ease back to school jitters:

  • tour the school beforehand to understand where the classes will be and to understand the schedule

  • buy a planner and get all the materials necessary beforehand

  • get school clothes & lunches and snacks ready the night before

  • arrange play dates with friends who will be in the same class during the year

  • practice drop offs and pick ups

  • re-set bedtimes and wake up times

  • listen to your child’s emotions and validate how he or she is feeling. Listen to his or her worries.

  • take care of yourself because kids will pick up on your own stress level

  • role play how to deal with anxiety provoking situations

If you notice however, the jitters last more than a few weeks, and the anxiety appears to be excessive, there may be more going on. For example, if your child refuses to engage with other kids, is having a continuous difficult time separating to go to school for more than the first week, will not attend activities without you, is withdrawing from family or friends, is not sleeping or eating, and will not engage in school functions or activities, an intervention with a therapist may be helpful. Please reach out to courtneycounseling@gmail.com or visit my website wwwcourtneyhamlin.com to schedule a consult. Good luck and have a great school year!

Courtney Hamlin