Managing Back-to-School Anxiety: Tips for Parents and Students

It’s that time of year when the summer days are winding down, while the stress of heading back to school may be amping up. We’ve all felt the mashup of excitement and nerves as the school year resumes. And let’s be honest, it’s not just the kids feeling it — as parents, we get our fair share of anxiety over this transition too! Managing back-to-school anxiety can be a reality for many families. So, how do we keep it together while helping our children feel confident and calm? Here are some tips for parents and students as we get back into the swing of school. 

Get Into a Back-to-School Groove

Summer’s all about late mornings and flexible schedules — but the realities of being back in school call for more structure. There’s peace in predictability, so get into a groove at home that you and your children can fall into easily. Set a daily routine for activities like after-school commitments, homework, and family time. Make sure bedtime comes early enough for everyone to get plenty of sleep (that includes yourself!) so that early mornings aren’t such a struggle. 

Talk About Feelings (Theirs and Yours) 

Anxiety over being back in school is normal, and it can help kids to know that everyone feels it. Open up a conversation with your child about how they’re feeling. Are they excited about seeing friends, nervous about a new class, or sad about the summer ending? Let them express their emotions, and in return, be honest about your own. Telling your children that you feel the same things can be a powerful reminder that they’re not experiencing these emotions alone. 

Get Organized — Together 

Scrambling to find lunchboxes or remembering last-minute homework assignments never afforded peace to anyone! Chaos breeds anxiety, but organization efforts can stop it in its tracks. Make a plan with your child to get organized before school. Prepare lunches ahead of time, lay out outfits, or create a fun morning checklist to make mornings run as smoothly as possible. Creating a calm environment before school can help set the tone for the rest of the day. 

Celebrate the New School Year 

Instead of focusing on the stress that schedules bring, shift your family’s attention to celebrating new beginnings. A new school year brings opportunities for growth, new friendships, learning, and fun adventures. Create small family traditions to celebrate even the smallest milestones. Go out for ice cream after the first day (or after the 9th day, just because), have a big family breakfast the morning before a big test, or include motivational notes in their lunchbox. However you choose to celebrate the new school year, be sure to do it on the regular. 

Work Through Lingering Anxiety

If you or your child is still experiencing back-to-school anxiety after implementing these tips, or after several weeks of school, it might be time to talk to a counselor. Xpress Wellness offers online and in-person counseling for parents and students of all ages to address the common anxiety that being back at school brings. Request an appointment to begin the journey back to wellness, and to enjoy everything the new school year has to offer.