Back to School: Helping Your Child Navigate a Big Transition
The start of a new school year can bring excitement, but it can also bring stress, anxiety, and uncertainty for children and families.
A new teacher, different classroom, changing friendships, academic expectations, earlier mornings, and a new daily routine can all make the transition challenging. Even children who are excited to return to school may experience increased worry, irritability, difficulty sleeping, changes in behavior, or resistance to getting back into a routine.
As a former school clinician who now specializes in supporting children and families, I understand that this time of year can bring a lot of change for everyone—not just students.
Here are two simple strategies parents and families can use to make the transition a little easier.
1. Establish Routines Before the First Day or Adjust With Small Changes Starting Today
Children often feel more comfortable when they know what to expect. Rather than waiting until the first day of school to establish a routine, begin gradually adjusting sleep schedules, morning routines, mealtimes, and screen time beforehand.
You can also talk through what the school day will look like, including transportation, drop-off, classes, lunch, after-school activities, and homework.
The goal isn't to make everything perfect. It's to create predictability and give your child an opportunity to adjust before the demands of the school year fully begin.
2. Create Space for Your Child to Talk
Not every child will immediately say, "I'm anxious about going back to school." or "I'm having a hard time with this recent change." Instead, you may notice changes in behavior, mood, sleep, appetite, or motivation. Create opportunities for your child to talk without immediately trying to solve the problem. Ask open-ended questions such as:
"What is the best part of your week at school?"
"Is there anything about school that you're worried about?"
"What's one thing that would make school easier or better for you?"
"If I had a magic wand and could grant you one wish about school what it would be and what would it look like?"
If children provide non-realistic answers such as only wanting to play, only go to gym or lunch, re-direct them to focus on the less-preferred parts of school. Sometimes children simply need to know that their feelings are being heard and that they don't have to navigate them alone.
When Extra Support May Help
Some stress surrounding the start of school is completely normal. However, if anxiety, sadness, behavioral changes, difficulty separating from caregivers, or school avoidance begin interfering with your child's daily life, additional support may be helpful.
Therapy can provide children and families with a safe place to understand what's happening, develop coping strategies, improve communication, and work through challenges together.
At Bright Harbor Counseling, I specialize in supporting children, adolescents, and families through the challenges that can come with school, relationships, transitions, anxiety, and personal growth. My previous experience as a school clinician gives me a firsthand understanding of the academic, social, emotional, and family factors that can affect a child's experience at school.
You don't have to wait until a problem becomes overwhelming to reach out. Sometimes having the right support early can make a difficult transition feel much more manageable.
Looking for Support?
If your child or family is struggling with the transition back to school, I would be happy to talk about whether therapy may be a good fit.
Bright Harbor Counseling provides therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families in Illinois and Massachusetts through telehealth, with in-person services coming soon in Chicago.
Grounded in Who You Are. Guided by Where You're Going.
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