Student Anxiety and School

Returning to school is very difficult for children and teenagers. At times it is also difficult to return to school as an adult. Anxiety is a key issue that will cause a sense of nervousness the night before school starts. Why is this so common and expected? Well for various reasons. Children and teens sometimes have a difficult time returning to school as they may think about the unhappy times they had the previous year. Or perhaps having to deal with other students whom students do not get along with. Perhaps the thought of having to do homework may cause anxiety. There are various reasons for anxiety, however, the best advise that I can give to a parent is to take the child to visit the school the day before it begins. Why?



Well by taking the child to see the school will help them remember that it will not be so bad on the first day. This is important, especially if the child has not seen the actual school campus throughout the summer break. This will lessen the anxiety. In addition, parents should take the child out to dinner to help them focus on other things besides school. An early dinner out in town will help also take the mind off of the anxiety. Also, parents should ask what the most positive thing the child remembers from the previous school year. By allowing the child to engage only in happy and positive thoughts, it will create a softer image of going to school the following day.

Parents should also openly ask the child what they look forward in the next school year. You may even ask your child what they are not looking forward to when returning to school. Whatever the case may be, parents should turn it around into something positive. For example, if your child states "I don't want to go back to school because I can't stay up late and watch movies. I will not be able to sleep in". The parent's response should be: "You can stay up late on Friday night and watch movies. Then Saturday you can sleep in". There is a solution, however it is how the parent communicates to the child that makes the difference.

Presented on behalf of Group Whynot.