The start of the new school year can be a time of great excitement for children as they embark on a new chapter in their young lives. But it can also be a major trigger for apprehension and anxiety.
Starting school, embarking on secondary school life or going into a new year group is a big step for lots of children. Nerves and apprehension should be expected in the early days of a new school year.
But primary school teacher and head of education at Atom Learning, Anna Masterson said there are signs which show pupils may be be experiencing more than just back-to-school nerves. She offered the following tips to parents:
Nervousness is normal
Not having much of an appetite, being a bit more reserved, or seeing an increase in tears or clinginess at drop-off are all normal in the first week or so. It’s important to talk to your children and explain that change can be unsettling and that it’s okay to be nervous whilst you get used to a new routine or surroundings.
However, most children should adapt to their educational environment fairly quickly. If anxiety seems to be going beyond the expected back to school jitters, it’s important to take it seriously.
Likewise, schools and teachers are also there to help and have the best interests of each child at heart. They want pupils to feel happy and settled at school and ensure children feel free of anxiety when they head into the classroom.
Keep an eye out for behavioural changes
A level of anxiety which should be cause for concern can often present itself through behavioural or personality changes. Some key things to look out for include struggling to concentrate, regular tearful outbursts, rule breaking or excessive worrying. Ifyour child is normally chatty and comfortable around other children but has become withdrawn and nervous in social situations, that’s a sign that something is wrong.
Spot physical signs that something is wrong
Stress in children can also manifest itself in physical ways. Keep an eye out for children having trouble sleeping, unexpected bed wetting, rapid breathing, a racing heart beat (which could be the signs of a panic attack), or tummy troubles. Whilst these might settle down after the first few weeks of school as your child gets used to the new routine, ongoing physical symptoms shouldn’t be ignored.
Anna said anyone who spots the signs of anxiety should speak to their children and the teacher. "There might be a specific cause for their distress - such as issues with friendship groups - or it might be a combination of factors," she said.
"Once you’ve got a clearer picture of what’s going on, there are lots of things parents and teachers can do to help. This might include mindfulness techniques, breathing exercises, simple routines before school to help de-stress your child, or talking therapies.
"The main thing is to keep an eye on how they seem to be settling in and take steps to support them if things aren't improving, or your child continues to seem stressed or unhappy. Make sure you create lots of opportunities for them to talk about their feelings and reassure them that together you’ll take action to make things better."
