September 1st, 2019
The start of a new school year is exciting for most kids, but it can also create anxiety in others, even those “easy going kids.” The Child Mind Institute (2019) reports the start of a new school year may be challenging for those entering kindergarten, middle school, or high school. The school experience can create emotions of apathy, anger, irritability, or boredom, which can trigger anxiety, frustration, and even fear. As a parent or caregiver of an anxious child, a supportive and safe environment creates a successful transition back to school.
Over the past several weeks, a new school year will or has begun for many children. Currently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports approximately 4.4 million of children, ages 3-17 years old have been diagnosed with anxiety and about 6.1 million children have received a diagnosis of ADHD. There are many worries and fears that interfere with school, home, and/or social activities; which can lead to a diagnosis of anxiety for children. Anxiety in children may be presented as a fear or worry or make a child irritable or angry. Anxiety symptoms can include, but are not limited to, trouble sleeping, physical symptoms (such as, fatigue, headaches, or stomach aches), and some children may keep their worries to themselves.
For some parents, the start of a new school year can be overwhelming and time consuming – lunches need to be planned, alarm clocks need to be set, a calendar of events needs to be created, and a routine needs to be reinforced.
Here are just a few suggestions to avoid a potentially stressful start of the new school year.
Suggestions:
1. Create new activities and schedules
2. Create structure and routines.
3. Create reasonable expectations
4. Validate your child’s feelings to ease academic stresses
5. Create and encourage positive comparisons to last years academic successes
6. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! with teachers, counselors, aides, coaches and other school personnel
No one can achieve a successful school year alone. Be the coach, the mentor and the parent!
Welcome to the 2019/20 School Year!