Practical Tips from Josselyn Clinicians
Returning to school brings changes in routines, expectations, and relationships. Preparing for these changes can help students feel supported as they begin the year ahead. Josselyn clinicians Tami Yeager, LSW, and Shreya Jain, LPC, offer practical ways caregivers can reduce uncertainty, encourage open communication, and foster a positive transition.
Listen Before Trying to Fix
Parents and caregivers naturally want to make a child’s worries disappear. They may offer immediate solutions or explain why the child should not be concerned. Although well-intended, this response can sometimes leave a child feeling misunderstood.
“Even for the youngest children, one of the most empowering responses to school-based anxiety can be to listen genuinely to their concerns,” Yeager said.
Caregivers can reflect what they hear with statements such as:
- “It sounds like you are worried about meeting your new teacher. Is that right?”
- “I hear that you are excited to see your friends but nervous about the schoolwork.”
Validating a feeling does not mean agreeing that something bad will happen. It simply communicates that the child’s experience matters.
“Sometimes feeling heard may be all that is needed,” Yeager said.
Give Students a Role in Preparing
“Involving your child in the preparation and planning for the school year can give them a real sense of agency and control,” Yeager said.
Choices should be appropriate for the child’s age. Younger children might select their first-day outfit or help pack a snack. Older students might organize a study space, plan their morning routine, or decide when they will complete homework.
Families can also review the daily schedule, practice the route to school, and identify an adult the student can approach if they need support.
Be Aware of Your Own Emotions
The start of school can activate a caregiver’s concerns about separation, friendships, safety, or academic performance. Yeager encourages parents and caregivers to recognize how their own emotions may shape conversations with their children.
Before responding, consider asking yourself:
- “Am I reacting to my child’s concern or my own fear?”
- “Have I given my child enough time to explain?”
- “Does my child want advice, practical help, or someone to listen?”
Temporarily setting aside your own reaction can make it easier to understand what your child needs.
Encourage Open Communication and Progress
Jain recommends that parents provide support by creating space for open conversations and giving children opportunities to share their concerns without fear of judgment. Validating a child’s feelings can help them feel understood, even when a parent cannot immediately solve the problem. Caregivers can also encourage children to focus on progress rather than perfection, recognizing small steps and successes as they adjust to the new school year.
Build Stability Through Consistent Routines
Jain also emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy sleep habits and consistent daily routines during the transition back to school. Predictable expectations around mornings, homework, meals, and bedtime can provide a greater sense of stability. Regular, low-pressure check-ins also give children opportunities to discuss what is going well and where they may need additional support, helping them feel more secure throughout the adjustment period.
Know When to Seek Additional Support
Some back-to-school stress is expected and may ease as routines become familiar. Consider seeking additional support if changes in mood or behavior continue for several weeks, cause significant distress, or interfere with school, sleep, relationships, or daily activities.
Families can begin by contacting a teacher, school counselor, social worker, pediatrician, or mental health provider. Josselyn clinicians are here to provide compassionate care for students and families who may need additional help. Get started here.
