How To Minimize Back To School Dread In Your Child

Friday, March 22, 2024

Going back to school whether it’s after a warm, long, summer break, a fun quick winter break filled with visiting family, or even after a nice relaxing weekend, it can be something that is dreadful for your child. Back to school dread is something that’s completely normal for children to deal with, but sometimes it can be concerning when your child is dealing with anxiety.

While we do want to stress that back to school dread is normal, we also want to make sure that your child can deal with it in a healthy way. That’s why we’ve created this blog. So, take a look at these tips on how you can help your child deal with that familiar and overwhelming sense of dread surrounding their return to school.

Minimizing That Back To School Dread For Your Child

What Do We Know About Back To School Dread?

We all can see our children become more anxious when going back to school is quickly getting closer, but for many children, it can be more than a little bit of stress. Did you know that according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, roughly one in every eight children suffers from an anxiety disorder? Going back to school can increase the negative feelings and anxiety in your child.

So what can you, as a parent or guardian, do to help your child through this difficult and sometimes emotional time?

Tips For Helping Your Child Manage Returning To The Classroom

1) Positive Distractions

When the countdown towards returning to the classroom is coming to an end that’s when the stress usually gets worse. When the days to return are getting closer, try incorporating some fun positive distractions for your child to take their mind off of school.

It could be a fun dinner night with your child’s favorite dish and some fun music or even a family movie night at home with some popcorn. No matter how big or small your effort is, your child will appreciate it more than you know.

2) Talking Through The Anxiety

Taking the time to talk with your child about what they’re feeling and what they’re going through is quite beneficial for your child. Let them know that they’re not alone. Tell them that there are probably other students in their class that are just as nervous.

But also let them know that it's okay to be anxious about returning back to school. Change can be difficult no matter how big or small the change may be, but let them know that this change can be exciting.

3) Practice Routine

When the time gets closer to the dreaded first day of school, it’s always a good idea to practice routine. Help your child work on going to bed early, help your child get back into the groove of winding down to focus on reading/school work. If your child is extra anxious it might even help to practice going to the carline to be dropped off, or practice waiting for the bus.

Routine will help give your child a sense of stability, as well as a sense of control. If there is an open house event or another way you and your child could contact or meet their teachers before school starts, that might be a way to help your child feel more comfortable about their return. Having familiarity or some sense of routine before the new year can really help your child.

4) Find Extra Support If Needed

We’ve stressed how scary going back to school can be for your child, and if the fear and anxiety are impacting your child’s day-to-day life, it might be time to find some extra support for your child. When we say extra support, we are talking about therapy.

If your child already has a counselor, this might be something they can mention. But if your child has never met with a therapist, and you’re not sure how to help, this might be an option for your child.

5) Plan Fun After-School Activities

One way to combat the anxiety your child is dealing with is to plan something fun after the first day of school. Unless there is a ton of homework, which there probably won’t be since it’s the first day of school, having something to look forward to will help your child feel some excitement throughout the day, which might help them feel less stressed.

It could be a trip to the grocery store to pick up your child’s favorite snack, going on a visit to see a friend or family member after class, or even a board game night with the family! As long as it’s a fun activity you know your child enjoys, this is a great idea.

About Ignite Learning Academy

Ignite Learning Academy is an online private school created to address the unique learning needs of many children and families. Our students are able to structure their day to complete their schoolwork at a time that works for them, and they can accomplish this from any location with an internet connection!

ILA is a great fit for children who are bored in school, have been bullied, suffer from anxiety, have learning disabilities, are gifted, travel frequently, or simply need a new way to receive their K-12 education.

Our mission at Ignite Learning Academy is to:

propel children’s curiosity for learning
inspire a passion for knowledge
develop independent, inquiring minds and intellects
commit to each child’s personalized learning so they can experience a safe social and emotional environment while gaining skills that prepare them for college and beyond

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