"Navigating Back to School: How to Support Children Facing Anxiety and Stress in New Environments"

All you need for going back to school

September is a time of mixed feelings for both parents and their children. As we put the Summer holidays behind us and enter new eras it can be daunting for both parents and children. Children going to new schools can be a challenge for both the parents and the children. As a parent you look forward to that next step for your child but it comes with a lot of anxiety for the parents and the child. You worry about them as they leave the comfort and familiarity of their previous school for the new unfamiliar and sometimes intimidating new school. The new school maybe twice the size of their old school and whilst they might have been the oldest group of children in their old school, in the new school they are now the youngest in some cases the smallest compared to the other children who are already there.

Happy Children excited about going back to school

Some children going back to school would probably be excited about the new and different surroundings, new uniform or clothes if the school does not have a uniform and all the other new accessories such as bags and shoes and stuff that symbolise a new school year. They would be excited about all these new items until the day they have to put it on and make that transition of never going to the old school but going to the new school, then the tears or the morose face, the reluctance and the dragging of feet, the lack of enthusiasm all of these emotions flow out like a river. It is difficult for both parents and children making this adjustment.

It is so important that as parents we make it easier for them. I remember my first day going to a secondary school. It was definitely mixed feelings. A bit of excitement also as I had been accepted at the secondary girls school of my choice because I had the grades required but it was also intimidating because some of my close friends were going to another girls secondary school and I had to make new friends at the new school. Added to this some of the friends from my old school were not in the same class as me so I could only hang out with them during tea and lunch breaks.

Back to school - A child who is a bit sad due to first day back at school in unfamiliar environments

For other children, going back to school, it is not the new school because they have already crossed that milestone. It is now their second year at the school but the summer vacation sometimes creates this comfortable cocoon for children that they forget completely about all the challenges of school. They get used to sleeping in, having breakfast or meals when they want rather than in a routine. No homework or uniform to think about sometimes until the week before school. It suddenly hits them that they have to go back to school and it is different from what they have got used to in the last six to eight weeks or sometimes even more depending on the country. They might have made friends who left after the first year which would pose another challenge for them.

How can parents support their children during this transition? Here are some tips I used for my children.

Reinstate routine

Its important to get back to school routing about ten to fourteen days before the start of school. If children are having late nights during school holidays I would get them to start going back to bed at the time they would usually do when back at school. Sometimes it might be a gradual process, if they are going to bed late sometimes after eleven at night I would start with a deadline of ten for a few days, then nine and then eight. So, they are gradually eased into it.

School Work Refresher

If you are like me, as a parent I used to give the children a break from schoolwork as I wanted them to do fun stuff during their vacation. As the return to school gets closer its good to start introducing some schoolwork to start preparing them for school. There are lots of website that helps with this. At least a few days before a week or so before they go back to school start introducing some schoolwork, it may be comprehension with questions, mathematical problems or even other subjects such as science to get their brains to start thinking about academical stuff.

Have a one to one chat

Above all, talking to them about what their feelings are about the new school, what are their expectations is very important. Don’t make assumptions that they would be alright. Don’t be blasé about it and dismiss any anxiety or fears they may share with you. Take the time to talk to them and listen to what they are saying. Let them know that you can relate to them. Maybe you had felt the same way they are feeling about going to a new school. Be open with them and share how you felt and any tips which helped you will most likely be helpful to them.