How Children Respond to a New School Year
How children respond to the start of a new school year can vary widely. For many children, this transition is exciting; however, some may experience stress, anxiety and even depression. This can be especially challenging for children who have already experienced stress or for children on the autism spectrum. Parents and guardians can take several steps to help children prepare for the school year, whether they are entering school for the first time or approaching the end of their high school experience. The following examples, tools, and techniques can help families support children during this important transition.
One helpful strategy is to begin preparing in advance. While many families focus on adjusting bedtime routines several weeks before school begins, there are additional ways to ease the transition. Parents and guardians can support the transition by creating predictable routines, discussing school-related feelings in a calm and reassuring way, and helping children practice specific parts of the school day before classes begin. For example, families might review the morning routine, organize school supplies together, prepare lunches or backpacks the night before, and identify a trusted adult at school the child can go to if they feel overwhelmed.
If the opportunity presents itself to meet your child’s teacher prior to the start of the school year, take advantage of this. Review how much social interaction your child had with peers over the summer months. If they were limited in their social interactions, it may be helpful to arrange a playdate or brief social connection with a familiar peer, practice coping strategies such as deep breathing or taking a short break, and use visual schedules or checklists for children who benefit from structure and predictability. If a child’s anxiety continues for several weeks or begins to interfere with attendance, sleep, eating, or daily functioning, parents and guardians should consider reaching out to the school counselor, pediatrician, or a qualified mental health professional for additional support.