Every child experiences back-to-school anxiety after a school break. The thought of a new school year with a new teacher and peers could be stressful for little strugglers. No doubt, the recent pandemic situation has intensified the fears and anxiety felt by children, who got accustomed to clinging to their parents and family. If your child depicts noticeable behavioral patterns, and such patterns persist for a few weeks, it is an indication that they need help. Here are some strategies to help your child in overcoming their anxiety.
1. Talk It Out
Saying phrases like don’t worry, take it easy; have no impact on an anxious child. Instead of suppressing their worries, talk about the incoming transition beforehand. Help them visualize their first day at school, how exciting it would be to meet and greet new friends, teachers, play area, and home time. Ask them to make a list of their favorite lunch snacks. Indulge them in their back-to-school shopping of lunch boxes, water bottles, and fancy stationery. Tell them how boring it is to stay at home all the time. Familiarize them with different school areas. Arrange their playdate with any of their classmates you know. Ask them what they like or dislike about going to school. Share your stories of how you had fun at school.
2. Treating Tantrums
Tantrums are the red flags that the situation is getting out of control for a child. The whole episode of tantrums revolves around the motive of getting maximum attention from the parents or caregiver. Instead of yelling or getting frustrated, calm down your nerves first. Let the phase pass and talk to the child later when they are calm. Tell them you know that they are worried, and it is okay to be a little nervous. Also, it is a natural feeling that many people experience. Ensure that you are always there for them.
3. Practice, Plan, and Prepare
Going away from the secure comfort zone of the home towards the unknown is daunting. However, you can make the transition easier through some preparations in advance. For instance, you can gradually start changing the sleep, wake-up, and mealtime of the kids. Plan some extra time to avoid last moment rush. Also, keep the margin for dealing with tantrums or counsel or soothe your child. Let the child participate actively in school preparation, organizing dress and backpack. Let them decide their favorite breakfast and lunch. Make plans for weekends. Most importantly, practice separation to prevent separation anxiety. You can do so by introducing short spans of separation from the child and letting them be on their own for a few moments.
4. Seek Expert Help
If the tips mentioned above do not prove effective for coping with the back-to-school anxiety and the meltdowns continue for weeks, it is time to get expert advice. Therapists, teachers, and parents can collaborate to help the anxious child. Together they can figure out the underlying reason for such behavior and how to cope with them. There could be many reasons like the child may suffer from:
● Social anxiety
● Learning disability
● Bullying
● Difficulty in coming out of the comfort zone
● Separation anxiety
● Health issue
● Sleep and eating disturbances
● The child is an introvert
Final Words
Back to school time could be overwhelming for many children and parents as well. However, you can prevent the situation from getting worse through some diplomatic skills like rewarding, bribing, sharing positive stories, and above all making them feel loved all the time.
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