Edmond, OK

Winter 2026
36.3657401
-95.9127626

Collinsville, OK

36.1280329
-96.3593123

Mannford, OK

Opening Fall 2025
35.2465741
-96.7134893

Seminole, OK

35.9862874
-96.0174306

Glenpool, OK

37.5660802
-97.3709993

Haysville, KS

35.449866
-94.7989585

Sallisaw, OK

35.9967066
-96.0132561

Jenks, OK

38.9409656
-95.2802756

Lawrence, KS

38.4044762
-96.2064101

Emporia, KS

36.7031873
-101.4841654

Guymon, OK

33.9925271
-96.3858191

Durant, OK

39.0280096
-96.8383243

Junction City, KS

39.1898208
-96.5521937

Manhattan, KS

34.7814139
-96.6515247

Ada, OK

37.9745727
-100.8548038

Garden City, KS

36.9056719
-94.8771458

Miami, OK

35.3619957
-96.9227164

Shawnee, OK – South

37.0545387
-100.928215

Liberal, KS

38.0712712
-97.8957805

Hutchinson, KS

37.7534577
-100.0347861

Dodge City, KS

37.6838488
-97.1358115

Andover, KS

36.0597494
-96.0032963

Tulsa Hills, OK

35.9889085
-96.1014776

Sapulpa, OK

35.7401366
-95.3371306

Muskogee, OK – South

35.7698291
-95.3672831

Muskogee, OK – North

34.9217578
-95.7426945

McAlester, OK

36.1671697
-95.7590783

Catoosa, OK

36.0500807
-95.8144945

Broken Arrow, OK

34.1877038
-97.1500703

Ardmore, OK

35.53884
-98.6947452

Weatherford, OK

34.6217561
-98.4769156

Lawton, OK

35.4120132
-99.4095586

Elk City, OK

34.5154842
-97.9665313

Duncan, OK

34.641945
-99.333549

Altus, OK

35.3742508
-96.9131486

Shawnee, OK – North

35.8663481
-97.4258621

Guthrie, OK

36.4333322
-99.3966458

Woodward, OK

36.7343644
-97.0666716

Ponca City, OK

36.3948797
-97.8905973

Enid, OK

35.0291998
-97.9360905

Chickasha, OK

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

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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.

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