Back to School Anxiety

Back to School Anxiety

Corey Soper, LMSW

As we prepare for our children to return to school in the coming weeks, we, as parents, have a lot of anxiety about what the future will bring. Typical back to school questions seem mute at this time. Will my child make new friends? Will he/she like their teacher? We are left questioning how our children will adapt in this new world, with this new structure. What if their friends have been exposed? Will they be scared of their new teacher with her mask and face shield?

Fear breeds fear. It is important that the thousand “what if” scenarios running through your brain do not transfer to your child.

Anxiety stems from trying to control something or someone that is out of control. We cannot control COVID-19, what the school will be doing, or how others will react to all these changes; but we can prepare for the things within our control. The hardest thing you can do, and must do, is to embrace the chaos. Facts are facts and the rules are the rules. Allow these to guide you in preparing for back to school.

• Your child must wear a mask at school – depending on their age – all day long.
  • Allow your child to pick out or help with making their own mask.
  • Have them wear their mask for a period of time to get used to it. Back to school shopping or running to the grocery store are great opportunities to see how they do.
    • Is it too tight? Too loose?
    • Are their glasses fogging up?
    • Are they constantly touching it?
    • Correct whatever issues you notice in a teaching approach and do a trial run again until your child is comfortable.
  • If your child has breathing difficulties and a mask is not a good option for them, speak with your school and try to work out a compromise. Can they wear a face shield in lieu of a mask?
• Hand hygiene is a must.
  • Have your child demonstrate to you their hand washing hygiene.
    • Correct whatever you notice is not correct. Again, an easy going, educational approach is going to be the best received. You do not want your child obsessing and feeling anxious about dirty hands unnecessarily.
    • Find fun ways to teach your child about germs and have them explain the importance of hand hygiene in their own words. There’s lots of fun ways to ensure they know what they are doing, such as practicing with paint or shaving cream. Check out these links:
      • Practicing with paint
      • Germ video
  • Teach your child to cough/sneeze into their elbow and distance themselves from their peers when doing so. Make sure they know to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands after the cough or sneeze.
• Set expectations for what the classroom setting is going to be. This will be difficult for many as several school districts have not released their back to school plans, however, go with what you know.
  • Your teacher will be wearing a face mask, just like you have to.
  • You will most likely not be able to share your items with your classmates.
    • Teach manners on how to politely decline sharing.
  • Your school is going to have some new rules to try to keep the students and you safe. We need to make sure we’re following these rules and listenting to our teachers. This means:
    • The hallways may have stickers on the floor like the grocery store does.
    • Where you eat lunch may change.
    • Mom/dad may not be able to walk you into the school anymore. We can give hugs outside though!
  • Talk and listen to your school staff. Offer support as needed. Be respectful. Try to understand that many of the changes that make our stomachs turn are the new rules and not just the school changing things. Remember we are all in this together! Speaking with your school staff can be stress inducing; keep in mind this conversation is not directly about you – it’s about your child and how to best acclimate them safely back into school.
    • The typical start of school list will likely stay the same, but there will be some adjustments. Does your child’s teacher need donations of extra crayons or does your student need to bring their own calculator for math?
    • What is the sanitizing process for the classroom, school, or bus? Does your teacher need donations of cleaning supplies?
    • What are the expectations of you, as the parent, for school drop off/pick up, events, etc.

Should you need behavioral health help, assistance in navigating the pandemic, or are interested in therapy, please reach out to our Behavioral Health Office at 586-749-5197 ext. 213. We offer services in Algonac, New Haven, and Port Huron, along with tele-health options.