Managing Back to School Jitters
by Angie Antoniak

Most children experience some fear and anxiety as a new school year begins. Confusion and embarrassment may be the basis for the tension. Holding a supportive conversation about those emotions will be helpful. Even kindergarteners can be helped to express their concern. Children who are afraid will tell you how they feel, but only when they are not fearful of being embarrassed, humiliated or punished. Most parents don’t realize that anxiety and fear are the same emotional condition.  The feeling of anxiety can be accompanied by headaches, muscle tension, perspiration, restlessness, tightness in the chest or mild stomach aches. Depression may be observed.

Consider the following:

• Establish back to school routines. A child can participate in developing the routine. It is helpful to write out the order of activities and the times at which they will occur. Post it on the wall. Non-readers can have a picture drawn to which they can refer.
• Let your child participate in picking out supplies, backpack and packing up the backpack. Permit them to choose clothes to wear, breakfast foods to which they can look forward in the morning or lunch articles to pack. This gives the child some control and may help to reduce jitters.
• Try to find out who is in your child’s class. Set up opportunities for your child to spend time with kids who will be in the class. (i.e. Put together a simple ice cream social for kids in your neighborhood who are starting kindergarten or set up play dates at the school playground. Organize a “back to school” picnic for kids in your child’s grade.
• Listen to your child's concerns. Use empathy. ("You are feeling unsure about heading back to school...") Find out your child's concerns and problem solve. Work with your child to find a solution that will help him/her feel better. Take time to really listen to your child. Be available to hear your child’s concerns, especially during the first few weeks of school.
• Come up with an "I'm ok" object such as a smooth stone or a special bracelet. It should be an object the child can touch or rub when feeling nervous to help the child calm down.  Practice a calming phrase when touching the object. (“I’m okay” or “Keep cool!”)
• Other strategies:  deep breathing, muscle relaxation (tense all muscles for 5 seconds and release), visualization of a happy, relaxing place or kid's yoga.

Page 1  2