Is Your Child Really Anxious About Going Back to School This Fall?
When I was growing up, I hated my birthday. It represented the end of summer and a new school year. I was a good student. I had a large number of friends. Something about the end of summer always made me feel uneasy. Perhaps it was the uncertainty of not knowing my teacher, or who would be in my classroom in the coming year. I never shared with anyone my uneasiness, but looking back at it, this impacted my sleep and the enjoyment of the last few weeks of summer.
Most parents are filled with mixed emotions as the new school year approaches. On the one hand, you're anxious to see how your child has grown. On the other hand, you can't help but feel a little stressed about the upcoming year. It's common for kids to feel anxious about returning to school, and we must let them share those feelings. Here are a few reasons to let your kids share their anxiety about returning to school.
School and Anxiety
For many kids, it's time to return to school. While some children may be excited about the new school year, others may feel anxious. After all, starting a new school year can be a significant change. Classes may be harder, there may be new kids in the class, and the routine will be different. The anxiety may be exasperated if they go to a new school or don't know any of the kids in their class. That's why it's normal for kids to feel anxious when starting a new school year. It's important to talk to your child about their anxiety and help them to understand that it's normal to feel this way. Encouraging your child to express their emotions is a valuable skill that will help them throughout life. So if your child is anxious about starting the new school year, don't hesitate to talk to them about it. Helping them to understand and cope with their anxiety will set them up for a successful school year.
Kids and School Sports Teams
Sports can be a great confidence builder or a confidence killer. Trying out for a sports team for a child can be exciting but also filled with stress. Even if the child excels at a particular sport, anxiety can impact performance, decision making and intensity levels. I've seen kids on other teams perform valiantly, but trying out for a different team can yield mediocre results and thus underperformance. Usually, this is a temporary issue until they meet a couple of the other players or a coach compliments them on their play. There will be those days when you can't seem to catch a pass, hit a ball or make a shot. Preparing your kids for some of these performance issues can take them in stride and persevere through adversity. Encourage them to try to meet some other kids and introduce themselves to the coaches.
Alleviating Anxiety in Kids
One of the best ways to alleviate anxiety in kids is to help them become more emotionally aware. When children understand their emotions, they can better manage and express them. This emotional awareness can be fostered through honest and open communication with your child. Providing a supportive home environment where your child feels loved and accepted is also essential. Exercise is a healthy and beneficial way to remedy stress in your child.
Additionally, don't hesitate to seek professional help if you think your child is struggling with anxiety. School stress is another common cause of anxiety in children. To help ease your child's anxiety, talk to their teacher about ways to reduce stressors at school. For example, you might ask the teacher to provide more structure during class or give your child a more extended grace period for assignments. Lastly, it's important to model healthy coping mechanisms for your child. If you can take breaks and manage stress healthily, your child will be more likely to do the same.
Conclusion
It's easy to brush off our kids' concerns as trivial or over-dramatic, but the fact is that their anxiety about returning to school is natural. And while we may not be able altogether to remove all of the uncertainty from their lives, there are a few things we can do to help them feel more confident and calm. Acknowledging what your child is feeling, even if it seems silly to you, is a critical step in building up their emotional awareness. Talk to them about the different things that are making them anxious and brainstorm some solutions together. Maybe there's a way they can connect with classmates before school starts, or they could practice walking through their new school campus beforehand. Whatever steps you take, ensure they know that you're on their side and rooting for them every step.
