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 therapists 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.
Create a Simple Coping Plan
Jain recommends helping students choose a few strategies they can use when stress rises during the school day. These might include taking several slow breaths, getting a drink of water, writing down a worry to discuss later, or talking with a trusted adult.
Practice the strategies before school begins so they feel familiar. Families can also help students identify a teacher, counselor, social worker, or other adult they can contact when they need support.
Focus on the Next Step
Thinking about an entire semester can feel overwhelming. Jain suggests helping students focus on the next manageable step, such as getting through the first morning, entering the classroom, or completing one assignment.
After school, try specific, low-pressure questions:
- “What felt easier than you expected?”
- “What was one difficult moment?”
- “What could make tomorrow a little easier?”
Some children may need time to eat, rest, or decompress before talking. A predictable after-school routine can help students feel more secure.
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.
