Back to School Anxiety - Psychologist's Thoughts
Last updated date : April 01, 2023
Going back to school can be a lot to take in for young children. They can become anxious and emotional at the thought. These reactions are likely due to the average day in school being filled with many stress factors like having to be separate from parents, managing peer pressure, dealing with academic expectations and navigating crowded and noisy school hallways. Hence, there’s a possibility for our children to experience anxiety when they go back to school. Therefore, In this article, learn how to help children with back to school anxiety.
There are many different things that can cause stress for children in school, beyond just a few specific examples. Some factors might be related to the child's own personality or home life, while others might have to do with difficulties they have in learning. All of these different factors can contribute to feelings of anxiety for children as they approach the start of a new school year.
Parents may notice that their children seem more worried or anxious during this time, and may even see a noticeable change in their demeanor or mood. For many children, the excitement of summer can quickly disappear as they start to worry about the challenges and pressures of the upcoming school year.
Signs of back to school Anxiety
For children who already have long-standing anxiety problems, going back to school after holidays or a period of illness can be very stressful for them. For other children, psychologists have found that there are certain signs to look out for.
- They continually want the parent to reassure them that they will be alright. They keep asking questions like: “What if I am not in the same class with my friends?” “What if nobody wants to sit with me?” “ Will everything be alright?”
- They complain of physical issues like headaches, stomach problems and tiredness.
- They start showing a significant change in their sleeping pattern. Some wake up abruptly in the middle of the night while others find it difficult to fall asleep.
- They start avoiding school-related activities like school tours, and the other activities are school-related. They might be slow to start their day on school mornings, take longer to finish breakfast and get ready.
How To Deal With Back-to-School Anxiety
Parents and school teachers often have to drive the change needed to address the anxiety. However, Psychology experts have come up with strategies that can help.
Handle the basics
No human being functions properly when tired or hungry. Therefore, Most anxious kids sometimes forget to eat because they do not feel hungry and most don’t get enough sleep, so they are tired. The parent must provide frequent and healthy snacks for the child. Ensure that the child gets enough sleep and also gets enough to eat. Thus, Handle the basics first.
Encourage the child to share his/her concerns
Children, no matter their age, have emotions and can express them. If your child seems anxious, it can be helpful to ask them what is causing them to feel that way. Once you have a better understanding of what is bothering them, it's important to let your child know that their worries are understandable and normal. This simple act of listening can make your child feel like their feelings are valid and heard. When you talk to your child, try to remain calm and composed, even if you're feeling worried yourself.
Avoid giving the child reassurance
Children are keen to seek reassurance that everything will be fine and that they will not face any problems in school. Do not encourage this in the child, rather inform the child that problems will come and that he/she must learn to face these problems and that they have your support. Rather than reassure, teach the child how to handle real-life problems.
This can be done by helping them to relax, talk to others including their teachers, making their needs are known and asking for help and behavioural strategies to tackle certain problems.
Psychologists who have experience working with children are well suited to help with school avoidance or anxiety related to school including back to school anxiety. If you and your child live in regional or rural WA and would like to see one of our telehealth psychologists who work with children, contact us on 08 9467 2272.