Back to school can be an exciting time for kids. But it can also be a daunting, overwhelming, fearful time for some students who deal with anxiety.
Mayo Clinic child psychologist Dr. Stephen Whiteside, in a Mayo Clinic Minute, explains that there are things parents should look for, and things parents can do to help.
"The first one is staying calm and warm,” says Dr. Whiteside. “Realizing that when kids are nervous and worry, they often express that through acting up, being more irritable. Kids usually take those emotions out on their parents because that's the safe place to do so."
Many children can feel overwhelmed at the thought of interacting with kids they haven’t seen all summer. Whiteside says it helps to set up situations over the summer where kids see each other outside of school.
"Make some efforts to make sure that they have some play dates or reconnect with some of the kids that they know through school but don't see so much during the summer can be helpful," he explains.
One key for parents? Don’t avoid it if you see anxiety in your child. Whiteside says it is crucial to deal with it right away.
“Deciding that this is too hard for my child, they can't do it, we need to not do this, whether it's go to school, or we need to avoid certain things because they’re just too overwhelming for my child, it runs the risk of allowing things to get worse over time," Whiteside says.
Dr. Whiteside adds that making sure kids get solid, structured sleep, eat well, limit screen time and focus on staying physically active can help kids feel better as the return to school approaches.