As summer holidays draw to a close, parents may breathe a sigh of relief, but for many children, returning to school can trigger stress and anxiety. According to new research from the online education program “Save My Exams,” more than half of British teenagers aged 12 to 18 are affected by back-to-school anxiety. With the first week of September approaching, many students worry about fitting into new classes or adapting to new courses, leading to symptoms like insomnia, headaches, and nausea.
“Anxiety about going back to school is extremely common in children of all ages, because change and transitions are tricky for most of us,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kilbey, a clinical psychology consultant specializing in child and adolescent education. “The good news is that parents can do a lot to help. Validating and normalizing their feelings goes a long way,” Kilbey added. “Parents can talk to their kids about what’s bothering them, tell them it’s normal to feel anxious, and breaking down the pros and cons helps too. For example, while going back to school means getting up early, it also means seeing friends they like.”
Rebecca Ginger, a math teacher, suggests that parents focus on the positives by asking their children what they look forward to at school—friends, clubs, or school lunches. They should also let kids know that even teachers feel nervous, and this feeling has persisted for years.
“Anxiety needs the right guidance from parents,” Ginger said. “The best approach is to give them love and warmth. There’s a fine line between giving kids space to express their fears and letting them dwell on them. So instead of saying ‘You poor thing,’ tell them ‘I know this is hard, but you can do it,’ and turn ‘I can’t’ into ‘I can try my best.’ Set a time limit for talking about anxiety—15 minutes, then gently shift the topic.”
If children have trouble sleeping, parents can massage their hands to soothe their emotions; multiple studies have shown that hand massages reduce cortisol levels and ease stress and anxiety. “These effects are vastly underestimated,” Ginger noted. “Kids of any age, especially teenagers, tend to feel calmer when you massage their hands. Try massaging their hands for a few minutes before bed or before school in the morning.”
Parents should also acknowledge that they might feel back-to-school anxiety too. If adults aren’t careful, this can inadvertently amplify their own feelings, which in turn affects their children. “As a parent, you have to stay highly focused and calm to encourage your child to build confidence in handling the new routine,” Kilbey said. Additionally, going to bed early, reducing screen time before bed, eating a balanced diet, exercising, and getting fresh air are all helpful tips. “Going back to school is tiring for the whole family—better sleep means coping more easily in the morning,” she added.
Related topics:
Testosterone Booster: Fat Loss May Trump TRT in Raising Levels
WHO stresses safeguarding US CDC’s role in protecting public health
Gaza’s Health System on the Brink: Children Face Rising Disease Amid Hospital Shortages
