Back to School Tips for Parents:Managing
Your Child’s Anxiety and Preparing Them
for Success
The first day of school always comes with an overwhelming number
of different emotions. child therapy broward county Students can
feel happy, excited, anxious, nervous, stressed, sad, and even scared.
Here are some risk factors to look out for in your child or teen:
 Not wanting to go to school
 Physical complaints (stomach hurting, headache, nausea,
vomiting)
 Frequent nurse visits
 Not turning in assignments
 Declining grades
 Avoiding social groups
 Skipping classes or school
 Complaints of bullying
 Sleep or eating changes
 Mood swings
 Disinterest in favorite activities
 Panic or anxiety attacks
 Self-harm
As parents how can we help our children and teens cope and make
sure they have a successful academic year? Below we have some tips
for you!
1. Organize, organize, organize!
Children thrive on structure and organization. Create a visual
schedule for them to follow. Include important due dates, school
events, and when extracurricular activities will occur. Allow them to
add what is important! Giving them an idea of what to expect during
the school year may not give anxiety a chance to grow.
2. Positive affirmations to build confidence
Load your child up with positive affirmations they can remember all
day long! Encourage them to face difficult challenges, work through
strong emotions, and build up their self-esteem. Some examples of
positive affirmations include: “I can do hard things!” “I believe in
myself and my goals,” “Obstacles help me grow and learn,” and “It is
okay if I make mistakes.”
3. Help them emotionally ground
Using grounding techniques can help your child or teen in times of
stress and distress. The five senses grounding technique is our
favorite! Have your child describe 5 things they see, 4 things they
feel, 3 things they hear, 2 things they smell, and 1 thing they can
taste. This can help them get back into the present moment and feel
a sense of calm. You can also practice deep breathing and use
sensory toys or fidgets as well.
4. Create a routine
Remember how we said children thrive on structure? Well, here is
another way you can provide that. Create a morning, after school, or
evening routine (you can do all three!). Creating a predictable routine
can give your child a sense of stability. Meditate, read a book, go to
the park, create a silly dance, make a funny song, have a calming
lavender bath, or set aside time to cuddle. Be sure to build 8 hours of
sleep into their routine. Having a simple routine can help your child
during times of transition.
5. Positive reinforcement goes a long way!
Imagine going to work and not getting paid. Would you still go?
Luckily, children can feel rewarded by something much smaller (and
cheaper) than your average paycheck. Provide options of what they
can earn for different behaviors at school, specific grades on
assignments, or managing their homework load! Watch a new
movie, get them their favorite ice cream, fruit, or candy, take them to
a water park, or give them an extra hour of video games. Reward the
choices you appreciate.
6. Be specific about the struggles your child or teen has
If your student struggles with particular subjects or skills, inform their
teachers about what will help them. Providing your child’s teachers
with tools that you know work for your child will increase their
chance for a successful year.
7. Get involved with the academic team for your child or teen
If your student struggles academically despite your efforts, maybe
setting them up with an academic plan is the next step. Speak to the
guidance counselor or resource officer about psychological testing or
tutoring options. Having an individualize education plan (IEP) or 504
plan can be extremely helpful in ensuring your child’s success in
school.
Dr. Lisa Saponaro works within Broward County and offers academic
testing and parent training along with counseling for children, teens,
and parents at the Center for Psychological Growth and Wellness in
South Florida. Located in the heart of Plantation, the center is easily
accessible from Davie, Sunrise, Weston, Fort Lauderdale, Cooper City,
and Southwest Ranches. We can help set up you and your children for
academic success and so much more!