Help Calm Back to School Nerves

Autumn brings a familiar custom: the trips to the store for school supplies, having to buy new clothes, picking out a lunchbox and a backpack. The season also ushers in anxiety and anticipation of starting back to school.

First day of school nerves can be overwhelming. While we adjust to the back to school routine, many children begin the year with some tears and tummy aches. Even as they get older and learn to anticipate the anxiety, the first days of school always include some degree of stress.

Tips for making back to school easier include:

Be Prepared for First Day

• Discuss situations in advance.
• Every opportunity to talk about school should be utilized, but not overdone. Keep things simple, especially with smaller children.
• Keep things positive.

School Routines

The early mornings. Packing lunches. Organizing homework and completing it in a timely fashion. All of these things, along with after school activities, can lead to added stress. By having a strategy and planning ahead, the transition can be much smoother..

• Try to have a routine set up and in place before school starts.
• Discuss the schedule
• Set up a place and time for when and where homework is to be done.
• Have a designated spot to keep bookbags and anything else that is required to go with students in the morning.
• Keep a bulletin board or big calendar with daily activities and commitments in bold and easy to read format.

Plan for School Lunches

Packing or buying, both need planning in advance.

• If you buy school lunch, pay for a weekly or monthly option in advance so that it's not a daily part of your routine to remember lunch money.
• If you pack, assemble everything the night before and keep lunch bags or boxes in the refrigerator for a quick grab on go.

Make Mornings Less Stressful

• Plan breakfast in advance, keep a well-stocked pantry and refrigerator for healthy, quick and easy breakfasts.
• Set out the bowls, plates and silverware the night before.
• Put out cereal and other easy to fix options the night before, too.
• Frozen breakfasts are popular, even complete egg, sausage and pancakes or waffles are available. They can be made in a matter of minutes and fill up little tummies for the day ahead.
• Make sure everyone has put their things for morning in the designated spot the night before.
• Lay out clothes the night before, socks, undies, gym clothes, art shirts. Make sure it's all there.

Bedtime

One of the most difficult things to re-establish, especially without planning ahead. Several weeks before school starts, get back into the school year bedtime, even if it's just cutting back by 15 minutes or so over several nights. The slow transition is easier than going "cold turkey" and making kids try to go to sleep several hours earlier than they are used to, especially when they are nervous about school.

Start a Beginning of the Year Tradition

Little ones benefit from a small photo album, complete with family pics, tucked inside their bookbag.

If it's agreeable with their teacher, visit their new classroom in advance and take a few pictures: their new desk, where they'll be hanging their bookbag and coat, their cubby, and especially, a picture of their new teacher (with the young student if possible). If they students are anxious before school starts, pull out the album and look at the pictures together. Take a first day of school picture and include it in the booklet. Add to the album as the year progresses, it makes a wonderful keepsake, too.

Keep a Small Photo Album to Help Reduce Anxiety

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