School Counsellor News

Returning to School – Ways to Support Your Child

With school resuming next week, many kids will be busting to see their friends and get out of the house. But for some, the thought of returning to the classroom may be stirring anxiety. Even if your child is eager to get back to school, they may need help with the transition.

Some children may not openly share their back-to-school worries. Rather there are some more subtle signs to look out for. They might share the ‘what-ifs’ – such as, ‘what if I go back to school and I get sick? What if I go to school and I have nobody to play with’. Other signs of worry could be trouble sleeping, restlessness, bursts of anger over seemingly benign things, withdrawing, or complaints about headaches and tummy aches.

We can help our children by encouraging them to express how they feel about going back to school and validating their concerns. Try using a conversation opener such as: "It's a big thing going back to school and it's OK if you feel a bit worried. That's really understandable and normal." After validation comes strength: where we tell our kids it might be a bit hard at first but it's going to be OK, and we know they're going to get through this. Saying well-meaning things like “there’s nothing to worry about” can often increase a child’s anxiety because we give them the impression that we ‘just don’t get it’.

We, as caregivers, can help our children by managing our own emotions. Typically, if a parent feels anxious about returning to school or school drop-off, children pick up on this and may see the situation as anxiety-provoking. But if a parent is really relaxed, the child will most likely model this. Keeping calm and relaxed can make a world of difference for a little person, especially leading up to a big transition.

Last (but certainly not least), remember, our children are often more capable than we think. We underestimate how resilient kids are and how easily they can adapt. Once kids are back with their friends and back with the teacher, they'll settle back in! With this in mind, I encourage you all to enjoy the weekend and celebrate the fact that we successfully made it through this remote learning period!

If you are looking for more hints and tips about managing big emotions or school anxiety, more resources are available on the School Counsellor Connect page.

Anne Woodcroft-Brown

School Counsellor