Supporting your child through back-to-school stress and anxiety
Back to school can be a time of both excitement and anxiety for your child, and for you too.
For some children and teens, making space to talk about feelings and introducing familiar routines will be enough for them to feel ready. For others, the start of the school year can lead to a lot of anxiety and school avoidance.
Here are a few tips for supporting a child experiencing school-related anxiety:
Listen and validate your child’s emotions
This lets them know that they are understood and heard. It also helps build trust, which can open the door to introducing coping strategies to try.
Keep a predictable routine around school
Knowing what to expect can help your child feel safe and lower their stress levels.
Practice being calm together
Relaxation strategies can help decrease feelings of worry and discomfort. Try this quick breathing exercise together and suggest they can use this if they feel nervous at school too.
Connect with your child’s school
If you have tried strategies at home and continue to have concerns about your child’s anxiety, connect with your school. You can speak with your child’s classroom teacher or another school staff member with whom you feel comfortable to find out more about supports available.
Note that some students avoid school because it is a setting where they have experienced discrimination or bullying. If you feel that your child is experiencing bullying, racism, or harassment at school, it is important to be an advocate for your child, or support their self-advocacy, by informing school staff of concerns. Reach out to your school principal to address the situation.
Our partners at Children’s Mental Health Ontario provide information for parents/caregivers on bullying and how to manage its impact.
To learn more about navigating school related anxiety.
For more information on how to support your child have a mentally healthy return to school, check out this resource