HOW TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WHEN SCHOOL STARTS

ALL CHILDREN FEEL SOME ANXIETY AND EXCITEMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR. NEW TEACHERS, FRIENDS, CLASSES, SPORTS, PERHAPS A NEW SCHOOL LEND THEMSELVES TO THE EXCITEMENT FOR THE NEW YEAR. WITH THE EXCITEMENT COMES SOME ANXIETY, FEARS, CONCERNS RELATING TO EXPECTATIONS.WILL I DO WELL IN MY CLASSES, WILL I HAVE FRIENDS, WILL I FIT IN, WILL MOM AND DAD BE PLEASED WITH ME, WILL I BE ABLE TO DO WELL? THESE CONCERNS ARE NORMAL AND SIMILAR TO ANY PERSON WHO STARTS SOMETHING NEW. THE FOLLOWING WILL BE SOME THOUGHTS OF HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD AND HOW TO EVALUATE IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE ADJUSTMENT.

1. SUPPORT THE SPECIALNESS OF EACH CHILD

FROM VERY YOUNG TO OLDER CHILDREN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NORMALIZE THEIR INITIAL ANXIETIES ABOUT SCHOOL STARTING. THEY ARE SPECIAL AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF TEACHERS AND MOM AND DAD WE WILL HELP YOU IN ANY WAY, JUST LET US KNOW.

2. GET TO KNOW OTHER PARENTS

MEET AS MANY PARENTS AS YOU ARE ABLE. THIS SUPPORTS YOUR CHILD IN ESTABLISHING NEW FRIENDS, HELPING YOU TO KNOW ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE THAT MIGHT INTEREST AND SUPPORT YOUR CHILD.

3. GET TO KNOW THE TEACHERS AND PRINCIPAL

TEACHERS APPRECIATE INTERESTED PARENTS AS DO PRINCIPALS. THIS NOT ONLY HELPS YOU TO BE INFORMED IF SCHOOL HAS ANY CONCERNS BUT ALSO SHOWS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL AND YOUR CHILD.

4. HELP TO ORGANIZE SOME SPONTANEOUS, FUN GET TOGETHERS WITH KIDS AND WITH KIDS AND PARENTS.

THIS HELPS ALL TO DEVELOP A SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE THAT WILL ENHANCE EACH CHILD.

5. ALLOW DOWN TIME

BALANCE SCHOOL WORK, EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND RELAXING TIME TO JUST HAVE FUN. SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S TALENTS BUT BE CAREFUL ABOUT OVER PROGRAMMING CLASS EXPECTATIONS, SPORTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

6. OFFER SOME EXTRA ATTENTION AND SUPPORT IF IT WILL HELP YOUR CHILD TO TRANSITION.

IF YOUR CHILD IS VERY ANXIOUS, YOU MAY CONSIDER OFFERING SOME EXTRA ATTENTION AND SUPPORT SUCH AS WALKING TO SCHOOL, SPECIAL LUNCHES, TIME EACH DAY TO TALK ABOUT THEIR DAY. MAKE SURE WITH THE SUPPORT THAT THERE ARE SOME BOUNDARIES OF EXPECTATION THAT YOU DO BELIEVE IN THEM THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO HANDLE SCHOOL. THE SUPPORT IS TRANSITIONAL NOT SET UP TO BE PERMANENT.

7. HOW TO TELL WHEN YOUR CHILD'S ANXIETIES ARE NOT TRANSITIONING INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

• EXCESSIVE WORRY ABOUT SCHOOL, HOMEWORK, FRIENDS THAT DOES NOT SETTLE DOWN WITH SUPPORT AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS INTO THE NEW YEAR.
• UNABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, EXCESSIVE DECREASE OR INCREASE OF APPETITE, ANY EXPRESSION OF NOT WANTING TO LIVE, ISOLATION FROM FAMILY OR FRIENDS, INCREASED IRRITABILITY, ANGER OR ACTING OUT AGGRESSIVELY.

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S START TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AND FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ADJUST, YOU MAY WISH TO HAVE THEM ASSESSED FOR POSSIBLE HELP.

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT ASSESSMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT ST. JOHN'S MERCY MEDICAL CENTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

FOR AN APPOINTMENT CALL 314-251-6898.