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Children start to feel overwhelmed due to the uncertainty and anticipation that a new school year brings, so back-to-school anxiety is quite common and it usually starts to ease as the school year goes on.
Creating a safe environment to talk about their feelings will help them feel seen and heard. As you listen to their feelings, try not to change or “fix” the way they feel, but to guide them through empathy and understanding, you can use phrases such as “I can see that you’re worried about making new friends – when I was about your age I used to feel the same way!” or “I understand that you’re overwhelmed with the thought of facing new challenges, that can always be scary at first.”
It is all about listening with curiosity and understanding the feelings behind their behavior
If your child has a hard using their words to express the way they feel, you can help them to express their feelings through play or art. For example, “How about we make a drawing that shows how your heart feels when you think about going back to school?”. Expressing their feelings creatively shows them other ways to communicate non-verbally but still meaningfully.
Routines are beneficial for mental health as they provide structure and reduce stress in our day to day. A week or two before school starts, try setting morning and night schedules so the transition between summer break and the school year goes smoothly and your child can incorporate healthy and useful habits.
Keep in mind that it is also important that your children can still have time for playful and creative activities so they can continue enjoying their break with certain boundaries for their own well-being.
Involve your child in fun back-to-school activities such as: shopping for school supplies, planning a fun lunch menu for the first week, setting goals for the school year. etc. You can even plan a family activity for the end of the week as a meaningful reward once the first week of school is over.
Overall, while back-to-school anxiety is normal it is important that we guide and support our children through this experience by providing them with safe spaces to validate and explore their feelings and with strategies to run through this transition smoothly. Keep in mind that your loving and understanding company is the most valuable support your children can have and you can take this as both a teaching and learning opportunity for the two of you.
If you want to know more about how you can be the support and guidance your child needs, we invite you to join our Parenting School (PAP) where we’ll help you understand this experience with empathy and we’ll provide you with the tools you’ll need to have a pleasant and productive back-to-school experience.
Psicóloga especializada en el ámbito psicoterap&iecuteutico y educativo, con experiencia en el trabajo con niños y adolescentes.
Egresada de la Licenciatura en Psicología del Centro Universitario Incarnate Word con doble titulación (mexicana y americana).
Actualmente cursa la Especialidad en Psicología y Psicoterapia Infantil en la Asociación Mexicana de Alternativas en Psicología.
