Helping Your Teen With Anxiety About School

Is your child going back to school or are they already back?

For students, returning to the school year can bring a bunch of mixed emotions. No matter what age you are, it can be difficult to transition from either never going before to school or from the habits of summer vacation over to the school year.

Teens and even younger students may feel worried that they don't know anyone in their class or that

they won't have friends. Perhaps shifting into a year with more responsibility and tougher courses might be intimidating.

While for some kindergarten and preschool can be the most stressful first days of school, other teens find that going back to high school can involve a fair amount of pressure and feelings of anxiety.

Is your child anxious about going back to school? For teens especially, starting a new year can be tough. They have all new classes and all new teachers with different combinations of students with them than they had before.

They may also have worries about what the first day might be like. Perhaps they won't fit in because of their outfit, or they'll be made fun of. Maybe they've been having poor sleep wondering what the year will be like. Fear of the unknown is a really big thing and it is totally natural to have a sense of anticipation or think about what the experience might be like.

They may be concerned that they won't feel comfortable in their classes. Some teens may have anxieties about getting lost or navigating the school. Still others may worry that no one likes them or their grades might be poor right off of the bat. Maybe they don't like school all that much and they are worried that this year will be worse for them.

Talking with your child may help them. Not all teens want to 'talk about it', however! You may be able to sense whether they are stressed out about fitting in or whether they feel unprepared for the school year. Ask them if there is anything that they need for school materials or wardrobe-- maybe feeling like they are more prepared for the school year will help put them at ease.

You can also attend orientation and explore the school early and get the schedule ahead of time. Letting your child know that it's okay to be nervous and that they just have to be themselves is important. Don't place any undue pressure on them or make them feel more anxious by telling them about stories from back in your day!

High school can be a tough place and confusing to navigate, especially in the age of social media! Let your child know that it's important to be respectful of others and nice to your fellow students. A therapist or counselor may be able to work with your child and let them feel like they have a sounding board that isn't a parent.

Hopefully, after a little adjustment, your teen will feel happy at their school and excited about the school year. Let them know you are there for them if they need anything and check in to see how things are going. With any luck it will be a great year!