Any transition or change can be a bit challenging but can be made a rewarding experience by putting in effective and collective efforts.
Its Back-To-School Time
‘Back to school’, this phrase alarms a change or transition in everyone’s mind, that might develop anxiety for children, parents, and teachers. This is normal and manageable by applying emotional intelligence.
Some children may feel anxious about changing their routine, fear of separation from family members or apprehension about a new environment, fear of being bullied, the pressure of school work submission, the stress of upcoming exams, sadness due to reduction of playtime, or stress of coming out of their comfort zone, etc.
10 Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Overcome Back-To-School Anxiety
Regardless of the reason, parents can help ease the acceptance of transition by educating children to handle it in the following ways:
1. The first and foremost thing is preparing their mindset for a change by opening for discussion to understand and visualize its positive side.
2. Recognizing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and fear. If a child shows unusual behavior or makes a complaint about aches in body parts or encounters mood swings etc, these might be symptoms of their emotional unbalancing.
3. Creating and applying some strategies to work around it. Every emotion can be recognized, understood, and managed, by emotional intelligence. By understanding the intention behind that emotion good strategies can be applied to see the positive side and show better behavior. If required, parents can seek assistance from experts in coaching and counseling.
4. Simulate the school routine one week before. Getting children acquainted with the upcoming schedule. A visit to the school may be a fun way to familiarize yourself with the place.
5. Calling and interacting with a few teachers before joining the school motivates a child to be ready for the new term.
6. Enrolling your child in a training program to learn skills to uplift emotional intelligence levels is a way to bring self/social awareness, and improve communication skills. This helps a child to learn and apply emotional management and communicate with old or new friends.
7. Coach your child by applying some life coaching tools. As a parent, if you are aware of these skills you can help them manage their anxiety.
8. Show encouragement and celebrate their wins. This may include writing a note or showing confidence in their courage or you can use your creativity to do it in your own way. Whatever the way, every small act of encouragement becomes empowering for your child.
9. Before school re-opens, plan a meetup for your child with his/her school friends. Motivation is contagious and there are many things we learn from interacting with our peers.
10. Seek emotional and mental health support if needed – Although every child/person has resilience power, it is always important to pay attention and to take care of their emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
If your child is prone to anxiety and finds difficulty with coping mechanisms then take it on a serious note. Do not hesitate to seek professional help. Experts in this field provide sessions in a very safe and secure environment.
