A new school year brings excitement and, for a lot of kids (and parents), a fair amount of stress too. New teachers, new classmates, new routines: it’s a lot of change at once. We asked our emotional intelligence (EQ) specialists to share their favorite tips for how to help with school anxiety and ease back-to-school stress.
5 Ways to Relieve Back-to-School Worries
The best way to help with school anxiety is to help your child prepare, connect, and build confidence before the first day.
1. Start the day with a positive affirmation.
“Say one positive thing about yourself before walking out the door,” suggests Julie Hughes, education program director at Frameworks. Affirmations help with school anxiety because while we can’t control everything, we can control how we think about ourselves. When a child says, “I will be a good friend today,” or “I can do my best in class,” their brain starts looking for evidence to prove it true and starts noticing good moments as they happen. Our brains like to be right, so encourage your child to put that instinct to work.
2. Believe in the power of preparation.
Packing backpacks, laying out clothes, and practicing morning routines might seem small, but Ashley Moore, an EQ specialist at Frameworks, says these simple actions go a long way. When kids feel prepared, they feel more confident and ready to learn. It also takes some of the back-to-school stress off parents too.
3. Practice saying “Hi!”
Meeting new classmates can feel intimidating. Julia Thillet, an EQ specialist at Frameworks, recommends practicing a simple, friendly greeting at home, such as: “Hi, my name is ___!” This prepares kids to walk into school ready to break the ice and open the door to a new friendship.
4. Ask open-ended questions (and listen to the answers).
Brian Schank, senior EQ specialist at Frameworks, encourages parents to help kids feel seen and heard at home. Ask open-ended questions like, “What are you most excited about today?” instead of ones that only require a yes-or-no answer. Take time to really listen to not only what your child learned, but how they felt and who they connected with. Kids who know they have a trusted adult in their corner feel more secure taking on new challenges.
5. Swim around the entire fishbowl.
AnnMarie Camesa, an EQ specialist at Frameworks, says easing back-to-school anxiety and stress is all about empathy. “We all have thoughts and worries that we can’t always see from where we’re standing,” she says. “But just like fish swimming in a bowl, we have to move to see other perspectives.” Encouraging your child to stay curious, ask questions, and remain open to new experiences helps them build stronger, kinder relationships with classmates.
Every child settles into a new school year differently, but a little preparation, connection, and self-belief can make all the difference. Try one (or all five) of these tips as your family gets ready for the school year ahead.
Get More Tips to Support Your Child
At Frameworks of Tampa Bay, we partner with parents, teachers, and trusted adults to help the kids in their lives become kind, collaborative and capable citizens. Join our email list to receive free resources, tips, and guides to build your child’s emotional intelligence so they can succeed personally, academically, and one day professionally.
