As your Facebook and Instagram feeds become inundated with grinning children clutching backpacks one thing is clear: it’s back-to-school! And while there may a year’s worth of excitement ahead, for some students, the start of another school year can trigger feelings of anxiety or confusion. A different classroom, harder subjects, and new sports teams can all feel like a challenge!

With so many things changing and so many expectations, back-to-school can be tough. Having gone through our own life changes, adults know transition is a natural part of life, but “kids need help understanding that their feelings are a normal part of this. They would benefit from knowing most people have similar feelings during times of change,” said Margot Burke, a licensed psychologist and the owner and director of the Milestones Psychology and Wellness in Ardmore. Parents and teachers should teach children they may have more than one feeling about ending and beginning something, she says.

Making Sense of the Mix

Back-to-school is a great time to foster kids’ emotional development. Children often are sad to leave their teachers and friends, happy about summer vacation, and nervous about the start of the school year — all at the same time, says Burke. Talking to kids about having more than one feeling at a time, even opposite ones, is helpful.

Prepare Before School Even Begins

Valerie Braunstein, Psy.D., founder and CEO of Philly Psychology, suggests getting on the following before school begins:

• Reestablish bedtime and mealtime routines

• Arrange get-togethers with classmates to maintain social connections

• Make a list of resources within the school with whom your child can turn to for support, assistance, or instruction

• Inform them of changes about to come

Strategies for Success

According to Burke, it’s important to help children know what to expect during times of transition. Transitions help them feel safe and secure when things around them are unpredictable. Parents can do this using pictures, visual schedules, and calendar countdowns.

Develop Rituals

“Developing rituals and reflection around transitions can help develop predictability over the long term and show children that change can be positive,” Burke said.

“Develop rituals that are fun and celebrate the end of something such as special meals, activities, or a fun event with the whole family,” she said. “Take time to reflect with children how much they have grown over the school year and point out a time when something was hard for them, and now are easier.”

Encourage Self-Confidence

Braunstein offered another strategy: encourage kids to feel good about themselves, and the situations they are dealing with. Remind them of times when they have done well. “After a child experiences instances of good coping, parents can highlight these (e.g., photos, awards), so that the child is more likely to remember them and build confidence,” she said.

You can also remind your child of all the times they handled a stressful situation well. Remind them of when the child found a way to get through it (a football practice when he broke his thumb), which helps build confidence.

Signs to Watch Out for

But even the best prep can still lead to a difficult first few weeks of school. Some signs the transition might be especially hard, and your child may need additional assistance. This includes:

• Feelings of sadness that last at least two weeks. Intense mood swings that cause problems in relationships, worries or fears that interfere with daily activities. Dangerous behavior or self-injury, expressing a desire to hurt others or themselves, difficulty concentrating. Unexplained weight loss or weight gain, physical symptoms without obvious cause (e.g., headaches, stomachaches), avoiding friends or social activities. Frequent nightmares, changes in school performance, substance abuse).

If you notice any of these symptoms or anything that strikes you as “not right,” talk to your pediatrician or a psychologist, Braunstein said. New situations can be stressful for everyone, but with your help and guidance, your child has a great chance to succeed.

This article first appeared on our sister site, Main Line Parent. You can find the original post here.

Lead Photo Courtesy of Canva