Tips for managing 're-entry' anxiety as kids go back to school
The start of the 2021-22 school year is coming up fast, and you and your family may be experiencing what is being called “re-entry anxiety” as you prepare to send the kids back to school.
Debbie Smith, director of Oakland Family Services’ Specialized Services for Youth program, recently appeared on WXYZ Channel 7 Detroit to discuss ways for parents to help manage their children’s anxiety — and their own — about going back to school.
“Kids can really feed off of their parents’ anxiety, so it’s really important that the parents manage their own anxiety first,” Smith said.
She shared these tips to help manage back-to-school anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic:
Ensure that you know the safety measures your child’s school is putting into place. Are masks required? Will there be social distancing?
Have a discussion with your child about returning to school. Going back to school can cause anxiety even when the coronavirus pandemic isn’t a factor. Ask how your child is feeling and whether they have any questions.
Share the school’s safety guidelines with your child. If your child’s school is not requiring face masks, but you would like your child to wear one, make sure your child understands your expectations and the reasons you would like them to wear a face mask. For instance, “Masks don’t only protect you, but they also protect people we care about from getting sick, like Grandma or your baby sister.”
Transition to a routine more similar to the one your child will be following when school starts: going to bed earlier, waking up earlier, and eating and bathing on a regular schedule. If your child will be wearing a mask at school, consider whether they need to practice wearing one at home.
Visit your child’s school, and take a building tour, if possible.
Parents should also watch for red flags that their child’s anxiety goes beyond short-term worries about going back to school, such as increased or decreased sleeping, changes in moods, irritability, self-harm or suicidal behavior. Anxiety may also present as real physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches, and parents should not assume the child is faking these symptoms.
If you’re looking for mental health assistance for yourself or your child, reach out to Day One, Oakland Family Services’ mental health and substance use treatment program. Day One clinicians work with adults, teens and children as young as four to address anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns. Oakland Family Services’ Parents as Teachers program can also work with you to address any parenting concerns you may have and help you learn strategies to best support your child.
