What Should Parents Do if Back to School Anxiety Doesn’t Subside?

Last spring, many young students were burdened by the return to in-person learning after so much time learning virtually throughout the pandemic. We published this blog post in an effort to make the transition back to school a little easier with some tips for preparation. At this point, we’re in the thick of another school year, and its only expected that back to school anxiety may have returned for many of our young learners. At this point, however, the school year is already in full swing. If your child is still trying to cope with school-related anxiety, here are a few tips and strategies that may help.

Curbing Back to School Anxiety That Has Not Subsided

If your child has remained anxious after the start of the school year, there are a few things you can do as a parent to help. Many children will simply prefer to avoid the stimulus that is causing the distress, but the best strategy is to try to approach the issue with an open discussion before resorting to any concrete plans. Your ultimate goal here should be to establish that the distress your child is going through is valid, and they are safe to discuss their feelings with you. Keeping calm throughout these discussions is important, as you want to model calm and open communication with your child.

Once you have an understanding of the root of your child’s stress, you can create a plan for growth that is shaped by both their ideas and your advice as a parent. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the child to attend school, and we can make it easier for them to do so by being there to make the period of transition as smooth as possible, while boosting their confidence by allowing them to play a role in the acclimation process.

Knowing When to Seek Help

A moderate amount of back-to-school anxiety and stress is natural, and even expected. Even still, there may be deeper issues at root if the anxiety has not subsided after the first few weeks of school. If your child is still displaying major differences in their standard behavior after school, like withdrawal from social events or unwavering distress, this is a sign that it is time for further action.

At that point, you should be sure to speak with the teacher to discuss new strategies for your child. You may also want to look into a pediatric assessment to potentially discover an explanation for the sustained distress.

Schedule Your Child’s Neuropsychological Assessment with Reflect Neuropsychology

Reflect Neuropsychology is a leading neuropsychology firm in Southern California, specializing in counseling, therapy and neuropsychological assessment of children, adolescents and adults. We also can address your medicolegal needs and provide expert witness testimony, legal examination of medical records as well as independent medical examinations for capacity assessments and more. As a highly specialized practice, we can focus on evidence-based, personally tailored treatment and evaluation. To learn more about our services and schedule an appointment, visit us online or call us at (818) 324-3800.