3 Ways to Get Rid of Back-To-School Jitters

Back-to-school can be a scary time for kids, especially if they are starting at a new school or have anxiety about the grade they’re going into. Don’t fret! Here are some tips to help to calm your children’s fears.

Talk it out: Talk to your kids about how they’re feeling and offer reassurance. Sometimes all they need is to hear that everything will be ok and that’s is normal for them to feel the way they do.

Work through their fears: If there is a specific thing that your child is fearful of, like using a combination lock for the first time, walking to school by themselves or talking to a teacher, work through it with them by practicing or roll-playing.

Ease into the morning routine: Summer mornings and school-time mornings are very different. Instead of launching right into a hectic morning on the first day of school, start easing into the new routine a week or so before school starts.

Help them make friends: Making new friends can be daunting, especially if your child doesn’t know anyone at their school or in their class. Teach them how to introduce themselves first and how to easily start-up conversations. If possible, try to organize play dates with kids in their class prior to the first day of school.

Share your own experiences: Share stories and memories about your first day at school or at a new job. Let them know the fears you had and how everything worked out in the end.

Sources: http://www.today.com/parents/back-school-jitters-15-tips-kids-parents-t39491