By Elizabeth Ernest, LMSW, PLMFT
A new school year is exciting: New clothes, school supplies, and experiences! But it can also be very anxiety-ridden for some children and teens. New school year jitters are common for students and parents. Change can be hard for many young ones, and transitioning from carefree summers to the structured school year can be frustrating.
Here is a tool kit with 5 ways to help the transition:
1. Write a special note for your child. You can ask the teacher to put it on their desk, put it in the bookbag, or even hide it in their lunch box! Offer encouraging words that reminds them how much you love them & how special they are. This note can even be turned into a bookmark or hung in their locker to remind them year round that you’re always in their corner.
2. Practice this grounding exercise before school drop off. My favorite grounding exercise is called 5,4,3,2,1. You name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. It’s a fun & tangible way to ground into the present moment, and it is a tool they can use throughout their day.
3. Arrange play dates with peers. School is more fun when you get to look forward to seeing people you love. To encourage connection with former and new friends, prioritize planning opportunities for your child to regularly spend time with them.
4. Create a rewards system. If separating from parent(s) at drop off is hard, creating a simple reward system can help. Slowly build confidence by rewarding your child after they do progressively more challenging stages of drop off. For example, day one might include walking your child to the classroom, then the next day might include walking them to the hallway, etc. Be sure to pair this with the tool below to ensure your child’s feelings are heard.
5. Validate your child’s emotions. It is okay for them to feel worry, excitement, and sadness about summer ending. Often, parents are ready for summer to end, but children are not. Remind them it is completely normal to feel all these big emotions about school starting and that you are here to support them.
You and your child deserve to feel supported during this tricky time of year. These five tools will help make the transition from summer to school a smoother one. If you believe your child needs extra support with school starting, connecting with a school counselor or their teacher can help. Many in the helping profession have ideas for tricky transitions like these and are usually more than willing to help. Good luck this school year; we are rooting for you!
