Going back to school in the fall can be an exciting time for children – but it can also be a stressful one. The Child Mind Institute has put together some resources on how caregivers can talk to children about their back-to-school worries.
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As a caregiver, it is tempting to focus on positive aspects of the back-to-school experience, but glossing over a child’s worries can be a missed opportunity to help them share their concerns and prepare to deal with them.
The Child Mind Institute notes that while it is important to emphasize good things about starting school, caregivers should also take children’s worries seriously. This could involve bolstering the confidence of a child with a learning disorder while recognizing that their challenges can make school frustrating.
Caregivers should help children to have strategies in place for dealing with common stressors such as homework or test-taking before they get overwhelmed. The institute provides tips for children going back to school with ADHD and sensory processing issues and teens who are socially anxious.
The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:
- Talking to Kids About Back-to-School Worries
- How to Help Kids With a Learning Disorder Build Confidence
- Strategies to Make Homework Go More Smoothly
- Tips for Beating Test Anxiety
- School Success Kit for Kids with ADHD
- School Success Kit for Kids with Sensory Processing Issues
- Tips for Managing Social Anxiety
