Calming Nerves and Easing the Transition as Students Start the School Year

The new school year can be a very exciting time for children and parents. However, for many children, it also can cause some anxiety.

The San Diego County of Office of Education (SDCOE) is committed to supporting school districts, schools, students, and families to improve their mental and emotional health and well-being. Our student wellness team works closely with school staff across San Diego County to ensure tools and resources are available to youth. We've compiled resources and information to help education professionals and families.

Following are some tips to ease anxiety from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center:

• A week or two before school, start preparing children for the upcoming transition by getting back to school-year routines, such as a realistic bedtime and selecting tomorrow's clothes.
• Arrange play dates with one or more familiar peers before school starts. Research shows that the presence of a familiar peer during school transitions can improve children's academic and emotional adjustment.
• Visit the school before the school year begins, rehearse the drop-off, and spend time on the playground or inside the classroom if the building is open. Have your child practice walking into class while you wait outside or down the hall.
• Come up with a prize or a rewarding activity that your child could earn for separating from you to attend school.
• Validate their worry by acknowledging that, like any new activity, starting school can be hard but soon becomes easy and fun.

Returning to school can also be stressful for older students. Check out SDCOE’s Teen Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for five wellness tips for teens.

Here are some tips for helping ease the transition from the South County Special Education Local Plan Area:

Establish Routines

• Create daily checklists for getting ready for school in the morning and when returning home in the afternoon.
• Avoid busy weekends with large changes in routine until your child has settled into their new school year routine.
• Use a calendar with your child to mark any changes in regular school routines ahead of time. Include information like important upcoming events, holidays, and school breaks.

Prepare for Environmental Changes

• Reach out to new teachers and staff to introduce yourself and your child.
• Share your child's goals for growth, areas where they may need additional support, and their interests.
• Review the route to school with your child, as well as a map of their school campus.
• Mark routes and class locations on maps.

Have Conversations with Your Child — Questions to Ask

• What are some subjects you are excited to learn about this year?
• How do you think school could be better for you this year?
• What worries you when starting a new year at school?

Review Individualized Education Program (IEP) Services

• Consider scheduling an IEP meeting before school starts or at the beginning of the year.
• Did you notice any changes with your child's social behaviors, academic strengths and weaknesses, or assistive technology over summer break?

For additional ideas and information, explore the following resources from SDCOE and other organizations. Hopefully, they can help make the transition to the new school year smooth. Don’t forget to talk to your child’s teacher or principal if you still have concerns.

Resources to Help Your Child

• Back-to-School Anxiety - How to help kids manage worries and have a successful start to the school year
• When Your Child Feels Too Anxious to Go to School 
• How to Empower Your Child to Deal with School Anxiety 
• What to Do About Teen Anxiety and School Refusal

General Wellness Resources

• A Young Person's Guide to Wellness (SDCOE)
• Virtual Wellness Center (SDCOE)
• Helping Handout for School and Home - Suicidal Thinking (National Association of School Psychologists)
• Teen-Created Mental Health Anxiety Card 

Video

When Back to School Anxiety Lingers

Description: UCLA Center for Child Anxiety Resilience Education and Support (CARES) Director Dr. John Piacentini and CARES Clinical Psychology Fellow Dr. Diana Santacrose talk about the feelings of fear and anxiety that often come up around back to school and how parents can recognize them.