5 Tips For Dealing With School Anxiety

It’s that time of year…the holidays are over and students are going back to school for a new semester. Many parents and students feel hopeful about 2012 and the possibilities it can bring. Others feel anxiety - another year of homework battles, stressful IEP meetings, and coaxing- no pleading- with your child to “Please go to school!” If you and your child are feeling anxious, check out these tips to make the back to school transition easier.

1. Talk to your child. Ask your child about why school feels stressful or anxiety provoking and listen compassionately.
   Try and get specific examples.
   See if you can determine what your child’s needs are. Some might include: to have more fun at school, to feel smart/successful, to have friends, or to feel like a contributing member of the classroom. Make a list of your child’s needs and brainstorm ideas for how he/she can get these needs met.
2. Talk to your child’s teacher in person. Make a point to connect with your child’s teacher right away, especially if the previous semester was challenging. Let him/her know that you really want to start 2012 off with a clean slate and that you’d like to discuss some ways that your child could be more successful in the classroom. Show your child’s teacher the list you made of your child’s needs and your suggestions for how those needs could be met. Also ask your child’s teacher for his/her input. 
3. Talk to yourself. Ask yourself, “Why am I anxious about my child going back to school?” Make a list of what worries you. See if you can come up with some creative strategies ahead of time for how to handle those situations. For example, if you dread spelling homework time, come up with a new and exciting way of doing spelling homework such as writing all the letters needed to spell the words on sticky notes and placing the sticky notes on the walls around the house. Go on a “spelling word hunt” and spell the words in different rooms around the house using the sticky notes.
4. Take deep breaths. One of the best ways to combat anxiety is to breathe.   Teach your child this strategy as well and use it together or individually as worries or stresses arise. For example, if your child is complaining about going to school, instead of immediately trying to explain to him or her why they have to go to school, say, “Let’s both take a few deep breaths.” Creating a pause before the discussion will help both of you to relax.
5. Seek professional help. If you or your child is having panic attacks or the stress seems unmanageable, you might need to seek professional help. Talk to your child’s school counselor and see if he/she might be able to talk to your child on a weekly basis, or ask for some referrals in your community.

We at PEAK Parent Center hope that 2012 brings you and your family ample opportunity for success and that anxieties of the past can be just that, things of the past! If you ever need help brainstorming ideas that can help make your child’s school experience more productive, smooth, and enjoyable, please remember to reach out to one of PEAK’s Parent Advisors. We are here to help! This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it today or call 719.531.9400 or 800.284.0251.

Happy New Year!

PEAK Parent Center www.peakparent.org - New Year's Special Edition 2012 SPEAKout Newsletter

Copyright 2012 © by PEAK Parent Center, Inc.  All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce may be obtained from PEAK Parent Center.

 Photo of student walking in hallway with blurry effect included under Creative Commons License by SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget. Photo of mother holding her child included under a Creative Commons License by AndyBullock77. Photo of the rock that says "Breathe" included under a Creative Commons License by Shawnzrossi.