It’s that time of year again and in less than a week children and youth will be back in school. For many children, youth and their families, going back to school can be a major source of anxiety. New Path Youth & Family Services would like to support families through this new school year by giving some tips on how to recognize and handle back to school anxiety.
Anxiety and Back to School
The start of something new can create feelings of uneasiness or apprehension. Children and youth don’t know what a new teacher will be like, or how they will manage a new curriculum, or new peers. It’s common for children and youth to experience an increase in mild anxiety as the start of the school year draws closer.
For those who experience more intense anxiety however, a return to school can increase worries about how they will be perceived by others, how they will perform (will they disappoint teachers, caregivers?), or how they will get along with other children (worries about bullying, friendships, social relationships). This level of anxiety can be incapacitating, and many may need support from children’s mental health professionals.
Anxiety is part of normal development and being exposed to new situations and learning to overcome fear is a vital developmental experience. Some things that can cause anxiety include: sleeping with lights off as a child, starting a new school, the first day of high school, and a job interview. These are all situations that children and youth learn to navigate as they grow up. However, for children and youth who suffer from moderate to severe anxiety, they can experience such a high level of anxiety that it stops them from being able to function properly in these new situations.
How to support your child:
- Ease back into the school year routine with bedtimes and wake-times, about a week before the start of school.
- Encourage your child by allowing them to have some control in back to school planning by giving them choices as you get ready for back to school. This can be allowing them to decide on school supplies, new clothes, etc.
- If your child will be attending a new school, or even a new classroom, ask if you can arrange for your child to visit in advance, and to meet their teachers before the first day.
- Take your child or youth’s concerns seriously, while at the same time expressing confidence in their strengths and ability to navigate these new situations.
New Path Youth & Family Services Programs Support Childhood Anxiety
At New Path we address anxiety in all of our fully-funded counselling programs. If your child or youth is experiencing more severe levels of anxiety before the new school year or after school is back in session, please attend one of our 6 Walk-In Clinics. This is the first step to accessing short and long-term mental health supports. Walk-In Clinics are available for free in Alliston, Barrie, Bradford, Collingwood, Midland and Orillia.
To learn more about New Path Youth and Family Services, to donate, or get involved please visit www.newpath.ca, follow us on social media Facebook: New Path Youth & Family Services Twitter: @NewPathYFS Instagram: @NewPathYFS or sign up for our TrailSigns Newsletter
You can also reach out to our Central Intake Department to learn more about programs available in your area:
Local: 705.725.7656
Toll Free: 1.866.566.7656
Email: info@newpath.ca
Some specific examples of programs New Path offers to help support your child and youth succeed this school year include:
Coping Cat Group for Children Ages 7 – 12
This is a community-based cognitive-behavioral therapy program that is designed for use with children and youth who have generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, separation anxiety disorder, or other anxiety problems. This program is intended to provide children, youth and their parents with tools to understand and manage anxiety.
Mood Management Group for Youth Ages 13-18
This cognitive-behavioral skills building program for adolescents teaches adolescents how to deal with their emotions by understanding what triggers the thoughts, behaviours, feelings, and physical responses that create conflict. This program seeks to help youth learn how to effectively manage difficult emotions such as anger, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
About New Path Youth and Family Services of Simcoe County
New Path Youth and Family Services of Simcoe County is a government supported, registered not for profit charitable organization. We are an accredited children’s mental health agency providing a range of innovative and accessible services for children, youth and their families throughout Simcoe County. We are the Lead Agency in Simcoe County for Moving on Mental Health (MOMH) committed to leading system change in the County. As Lead Agency, New Path seeks to enhance the experience and outcomes of children, youth and their families seeking assistance with mental health and wellness.