The struggle is real. For most kids going back to school, it’s no longer about fun and games. Kindergarteners are starting with common core, while middle and high school students are in the midst of planning out their life plans. My daughter has the option of taking a few classes at the community college and she’s only in 10th grade! The poor thing has NO idea what she wants to do but, somehow, she has to figure it out ASAP. Then she can start taking classes to accrue college credits towards certificates and degrees. Oy, I do not envy being a student in this day and age.
Back to School Stress — Why All the Worry?
With so much pressure to perform well academically, it’s no wonder many children face severe anxiety. They’re worried about friends, schoolwork, testing, and extracurricular activities. Then they agonize over how all these will affect their life twenty years from now. Alas, it seems kids are rarely able to be kids anymore with so much riding on these precious school years.
An article was recently on the Stanford Children’s Health site. It was titled, “Beyond Butterflies: When to Worry About Your Worrier.” I found great suggestions for alleviating some of that school-related stress. The article touched on pressure points for those in pre-K on up and highlighted how varying circumstances can affect a child. For example, nervousness caused from situations they’ve never faced can be debilitating for some.
Back to School Stress — Expert Tips to Tackle the New School Year
I love the suggestions to have practice sessions and for parents to set a good example. The saying “monkey see, monkey do” is so true when our children unconsciously imitate us in thought and action. What I didn’t realize was that there’s a more serious condition known as Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). You’ll have to read the article to find out more and how to treat it. Oh, and there’s a full-size printable of the below image on that page too.
Back-to-school can mean good times for some as they have new beginning and meet new people. For others, though, it’s a time of great worrying and stress. To help your child tackle this new year, check out the above-mentioned article from Stanford Children’s Health. It will help you get this semester started off right. You’ll also find other valuable resources found there. I know my little worrier and I will greatly benefit from these suggestions and I’m sure you will too.
To learn more and to find a location nearest you, visit the links below.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Stanford Children’s Health. The opinions and text are all mine.
