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Reasons for
Anxiety
Out of Routine
Starting school can be challenging for
both parents and kids alike, explains
counselling psychologist Madeeha
Afridi because the new school year
signifies out of the holiday routine
and back to a structured, often very
busy, schedule for the child and
parent.
Shift in Schedule
Another reason is the summer versus
school year schedule. According to
Afridi, children and families often
have an unstructured, more relaxed
and easy going schedule over the
summer, without the added pressure
of going to school.
Anxiety
Healthy anxiety can be the child
expressing their nervousness about
beginning a new school year, their
thoughts and emotions, in general
about the experience, which parents
should welcome and encourage, says
Afridi. While unhealthy anxiety can
be when a child consistently expresses
their fear of beginning the school
year, and in addition, they begin
to have physical symptoms such
as stomach aches, body pains, or
headaches associated with starting
school.
How To Help
Your Child
Getting Comfortable
For some children who are having
difficulty with beginning a new
school year, Afridi advises that
parents can take the child to
school to have the child become
familiarized with being on school
grounds after a long summer break.
Reach out to School
If a child is presenting with an
unusual level of anxiety, Afridi
points out that the parent can reach
out to the school and let them know,
and ask whether they can support
their child in any way.
Tips Parents Can
Do To Help Their
Kids
Get Back into Routine:
If a
family does not settle back into
a routine a week or two prior to
school beginning, children will
feel more anxious and unsettled as
the first day of school approaches.
Children feel safe and thrive when
they have structure and routine.
Mind-set: As important as it is for
parents to create a space at home
where children are able to come to
them with their worries and anxieties,
it is just as important for parents to
be aware of their own mind-set, as it
relates to the school year and other
areas of their life.
Open-Communication:
We
are emotional beings and when
children feel like they are unable to
express themselves openly, especially
to their parents, they bottle up
their emotions, which can turn into
anxiety, depression, panic, and other
mental and physical disorders.
Encouragement:
Parents can
create an environment in their family
where there is a positive attitude
towards school and beginning a
school year, compared to a negative
one. Parents can reframe their
communication to, “what are you
looking forward to this year? What
types of activities are you looking
forward to participating in?”
H
(Credit: Madeeha Afridi)
Removing the
Stress Out of
School for
Your Child
HEALTH presents a guide to making the start
of school easy and worry-free.
67
Sep/Oct 2015