A long summer break filled with sun-drenched days, flexible bedtimes, and spontaneous adventures is a liberating time for children. But as the calendar pages turn towards the back-to-school date, it unexpectedly triggers a wave of anxiety.
A kid getting irritated, being clingy, and showing sudden disinterest in conversations related to school isn’t just ‘Back To School Blues.’ These are clear signs that the child is struggling with ‘School Reopening Anxiety.’
As a parent, you can help your child manage the transition back to school after the holidays with confidence. Top schools in Gurgaon plan back-to-school activities to ease the school reopening anxiety in kids and kickstart their first day with full energy.
Before we dive into how to prepare a child for school reopening, let’s find out what triggers it.
Why School Reopening Anxiety Happens?
- Change in Routine
Children often struggle to adjust to their school routine after enjoying the spontaneity of summer plans. They have to get back to their fixed routine of waking up early, meeting assignment deadlines and completing homework. - Separation from family
Making the transition back to school after the holidays is challenging. Some kids get used to being around their family members after spending cherished moments with them during summer break. Feeling their family member’s absence in school makes them anxious.
- Academic pressure
After a month-long summer break, children face the pressure to make an academic comeback with excellent performance. Parents set high expectations, which can build school anxiety in young children.
How to prepare a child for school reopening?
- Talk it out
A study found a significant positive correlation between emotional expression and reduced anxiety in middle school students. Initiating a conversation about their feelings regarding returning to school is the first step to helping a child with back to school anxiety. Ask your kids – What are they excited about? What’s bothering them? How do they want to spend their first day at school? Having open and honest discussions validates children’s emotions, making them feel seen and heard. It will help you identify the root cause of their anxiety and find a solution.
- Highlight the positives
Make your child look at the bright side of the picture. Highlight the exciting parts, such as meeting friends and teachers, sharing their summer stories with them, playing favourite sports on the school court, trying their hands at new activities, and learning new skills. It feels overwhelming for kids to think about the first day of school. But new adventures await them there. Top schools in Gurgaon prepare a series of engaging activities to welcome and cheer up the students.
- Begin the preparations together
Research says anticipatory thoughts about uncertain situations trigger anxiety. You can help your child manage anxiety by preparing them for school. It is one of the best first day of school tips for parents who want their children to start the new session with full confidence. Take your child to a stationery store and organise back-to-school paraphernalia like a school bag, pencil box, and stationery. It will make your child feel in control and reduce their anticipatory worry.
- Regulate their routine
Adapting your mind and body to a new routine is often the most challenging part of resuming school after a long summer break. An abrupt change in routine can disturb a child’s sleeping pattern. Start regulating your kids’ sleep and wake-up times one week before school starts. This adjusts the child’s body clock according to the school timing and helps with anxiety management in school children. A good amount of sleep and enough nutrition help kids return to school with full energy and enthusiasm.
- Catch up with friends
Having friends by your side makes every challenge seem achievable. Friends are a strong pillar of emotional support for kids in school. While your child spends the summer vacation with family members, encourage them to reach out to their classmates, share their adventurous summer vacation stories, and plan for the upcoming academic year. Connecting with friends before school reopening will boost your kid’s confidence and help them academically and emotionally adjust well.
School reopening anxiety in kids is very common and natural. But you shouldn’t let it become a hurdle in your child’s new academic journey. The collective efforts of parents and the school are crucial in supporting children during school transitions.
The Blue Bells School, one of the top schools in Gurgaon, offers a nurturing environment that makes children feel like they are returning to their second home. With the right guidance and approach, you can help your child overcome his fear and begin the new session with positive energy.
