Transitioning back to school can be difficult for students. Seeing friends, sharing summer memories, learning new concepts, and joining extracurricular activities can bring feelings of happiness and excitement. However, for many others, maintaining routines, navigating the pressure of academic expectations, and the unfamiliarity of a new environment may evoke feelings of anxiety and apprehension. Here are some tips and strategies that caregivers may utilize to help their children navigate difficulties associated with the back-to-school season. 

Foster Open Communication

Take time to ask children open-ended questions regarding their experiences at school. Create a safe space where your child can share what is going well, what current struggles they are facing, and how you may support them. Encourage them to share their feelings about school and be sure to provide validation. 

The Mental Health Coalition (n.d.) provides the following conversation starters to help caregivers facilitate open communication with their children about back-to-school stress.

• “How are you feeling about going back to school?”
• “It’s okay if going back to school feels hard this year. It would be hard for me too.”
• “What feels hard about going back to school? What feels exciting? It’s normal to have different feelings about the same thing.”
• “I noticed you haven’t liked talking about going back to school (or any other behavior you have seen that shows they are nervous). That’s okay. If you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
• “It’s okay to ask for help, and you can always ask me.”

Create Consistent Routines 

Routines have been associated with “positive developmental outcomes in children, covering cognitive, self-regulation, social–emotional, academic skills, and overall mental and physical health” (Selman & Dilworth-Bart, 2023). Caregivers can emphasize the establishment of consistent morning, after-school, homework, self-care, and bedtime routines. 

Know the Warning Signs

Caregivers can look out for the following signs that their children may be struggling with their mental health. 

• Changes in appetite 
• Difficulty sleeping 
• Difficulty maintaining personal hygiene 
• Feeling hopeless, irritable, or annoyed 
• Headaches, stomachaches, nausea
• Isolation
• Avoiding responsibilities

References

Carrillo, S. (2022, August 22). Keep an eye on your student’s mental health this back-to-school season. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2022/08/22/1118485445/keep-an-eye-on-your-students-mental-health-this-back-to-school-season

Selman, S. B., & Dilworth-Bart, J. E. (2023). Routines and child development: A systematic review. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 16(2), 272–328. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12549

The Mental Health Coalition. (n.d.). Back-to-school mental health: Guide for parents. https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/back-to-school-mental-health-roadmap/