Calming the back-to-school jitters - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports

By Diane Griffith, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth

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Some kids welcome the start of a new school year with the same enthusiasm as the first day of summer vacation. Others dread the day and start showing signs of rattled nerves come mid-August.

If your child is less than happy about the coming school year, you may be able to help by working with him on coping strategies to deal with his feelings.

Common concerns

Your child may not want to tell you what is bothering him, but keep in mind that many children fear the following:

• Being away from their families
• Not being able to make friends
• Being called on in class
• Changing for gym class or showering afterward
• Finding someone to eat lunch with
• Failing a difficult class
• Having a "mean" teacher
• Taking the school bus
• Being bullied or teased by other children

Communication

Start off by talking to your child about what's bothering her. Talking about her concerns can help ease her fears. Ask her to tell you her favorite things about school and remind her that she'll be with friends she hasn't seen all summer. Also tell her that many kids have first day jitters and that in no time at all, she'll fall into the routine.

Starting the transition

Fear of the unknown can make anyone apprehensive. From giving a speech to giving birth, being prepared makes a scary event less stressful. The same is true of the first day of school. Ease the tension by preparing your child in advance for the upcoming school year.

• If your child is new to a school district, call the school and ask if there is a new student orientation. There he can meet other kids who are in the same boat, so there will be a few familiar faces on the first day.
• If there is no orientation, ask for a tour of the school. See if you can meet your child's teacher.
• Find out which of your child's friends will be in his classroom. Have them play together before school starts. Having a friend nearby can help your child relax.
• A few weeks before school begins, start easing your child into her school routine. Have her go to bed a little earlier each night until she's falling asleep at the proper time. Also have her wake up earlier in the morning.
• Go back-to-school shopping. Make it a special day. Go to lunch and then let him choose his school supplies and new clothes. Allow him to express himself in a way that will make him feel comfortable and confident on his first day.
• If your child worries about how to approach her peers or teachers, do some role-playing. Give her the tools she'll need to forge new relationships.
• Reassure him that even though the first day or two may take some adjustment, he'll soon fall into his new routine.

With your help, your child can face the first day of school with excitement instead of anxiety. You may even find that her back-to-school jitters disappear shortly after the first bell rings.

View the original Calming the back-to-school jitters article on myOptumHealth.com 

SOURCES:

• Johns Hopkins Children¿s Center. Tips for easing back-to-school jitters.
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Back to school jitters.
• Deborah Heart and Lung Center. Back to school: the ABCs of calming first day jitters.
• U.S. Department of Education. Helping your child succeed in school.