Start of School- Anxiety
School is starting and many parents have different feelings about it. Perhaps you love summer with your kids and are sad it’s ending, or maybe your family thrives on routine and you’re ready to get life back into a familiar rhythm. Either way, school starting is a change and it takes adjustments on all fronts. Often kids and teens have to change their sleep patterns, they have to reenter a world of expectations and social hierarchies they avoided all summer, and all these changes can often be seen in the behaviors and emotions of these kids.
When reentering the academic world, kids can show an increase in anxiety. This may look like nausea, headaches, restless sleep, worrying, anger, or struggles with separating from a parent. Sometimes these are short term in light of the school change, and sometimes they can persist for longer. It can feel overwhelming to try to help your child navigate these changes, but there are many paths that can help them succeed and you do not have to do it alone.
If a child is struggling with anxiety over school, sometimes they need a parent to foreshadow what to expect. Talk about the morning routine, transport to school, the general flow of the school day, and when they will see the parent again. Sometimes for younger kids, a transition object (small stuffed animal, a picture, or something that belongs to the parent) can help them find comfort on their own at school. Kids can also feel safer knowing which adults can help them at school; it can be comforting to know there is a nurse if they feel sick or get hurt, their teacher is available for their needs, and the office can call home if there’s an emergency. If a child is struggling for more than a few weeks, getting the school counselor involved can be an added level of support as well. There is also the option of getting them connected to a therapist outside school to help them work through their anxiety.
If your child is struggling with physical symptoms, this can be an added level of difficulty. A child who feels sick to their stomach with anxiety may struggle to eat in the morning, making the sick feeling persist and adding to their fears around school. If physical symptoms persist, getting a doctor involved can help rule out any medical issues and may assist in remedies to help the child feel better. Treating physical symptoms as both an anxiety-based issue as well as something they genuinely physically feel can help. Other physical sensations (holding a cold water bottle, fidget toys, a back rub) can help offset the physical feeling while you also provide the emotional support that helps calm the anxiety such as discussing their fears and gently reassuring with logic. Reminding your child of their strengths and other things they have overcome can also help increase their resilience and feelings of bravery and confidence.
Sarah Carter is a Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #6982. She is supervised by Lisa Lewis, LMFT# 112889.
Parenting, Children and Teens, Anxiety