6 Ways To Cope with Back To School Anxiety

Whether your child’s returning to school for the first time or returning after the summer break, there will always be some anxiety towards going back to school. Here are 6 expert tips on how to prepare for the big day and make things easier for all of you.

SEE ALSO: 25 Teachers Share their Back to School Memories

1. Role play with your kid

To let your child know what to expect, have her pretend to be the parent while you act as the child. Go through all the motions of the first day of school: waking you up, getting you dressed, feeding you breakfast, dropping you off and finally, picking you up. Just this little bit of planning and creativity can avoid a whole bunch of stress and anxiety.

2. Know your kid

If your child isn’t prone to clinging, don’t make your kid worry. You’ll just create stress when there isn’t any. On the other hand, if you think he’ll have a hard time, do have a few upbeat conversations to explain what’s happening. Anxiety stems from the unknown. The key is to find a balance between telling them what they need to know without overdoing it.

3. Practice with your kid

If this is the first time your child will be away from you, do some practice separation. Arrange for her to spend a few hours at a grandparent or friend’s house, and gradually build up to a whole day away. You both need to know you’ll be okay without each other.

4. Find some playmates

See if you can find one or two other kids that will be in your child’s class and set up a playdate before school starts. It’ll give you a chance to get to know some fellow parents and will help your little one adjust to his new surroundings. If your child starts fretting about preschool, remind him that he will see his friends there.

SEE ALSO: 56 Best Back to School Articles for Parents

5. Go shopping with your kid

Most teachers send a list of school supplies a few weeks prior to the start of the year. Even if you already have the items on hand, make a special trip to the store to pick up one or two things. Make it a fun field trip for both of you. Let her pick out her own crayons, pencils or notebooks and put them in a special spot for the big day.

6. Create a countdown calendar

Make a chart that counts down the days until school starts. It’ll prompt you to organize the household and will help your child visualize the time frame.

Do you know any other helpful tips for parents? Share in the comments below.

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