Mental Health Expert Offers Tips to Ease Back to School Jitters

It’s back to school season, and for many children and teens, that means anxiety.

Everything from where they will sit at lunch, whether their teachers will like them, to worrying if their classes will be too hard, are on kids’ minds.

“Some level of school anxiety is normal and to be expected,” said Madhurani Khare, MD, medical director of the Hamilton site of Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health. Dr. Khare is board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry and general psychiatry. “When children outright refuse to go to school or have difficulty staying in school, it can impact their quality of life and participation in normal activities.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 5 percent of children experience school avoidance or school refusal. There are a variety of reasons including social anxiety, fear of failure, fear of being bullied, being afraid of the teacher, and even fear of using the school bathroom.

Major life changes such as moving to a new home, the birth of sibling or a family separation can also contribute to school anxiety leading to school refusal. Additionally, over the past two years, children have encountered an extensive list of additional stressors related to the pandemic including social isolation, missed milestones, difficult learning conditions, trouble focusing and lack of motivation because of disrupted routines.

School refusal can affect those who:
• Are introverted
• Have low-self esteem
• Fall within the autism spectrum
• Have difficulty with relationships

Symptoms associated with school anxiety and school refusal include:
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Crying every morning or evening
• Inability to sleep
• Ignoring schoolwork, resulting in poor grades

These symptoms may occur most often on school days. Frequent visits to the school nurse and regularly needing to leave school in the middle of the day are also red flags that your child may be experiencing school anxiety. Allowing children to skip or leave school early typically increases their anxiety making it more difficult for them to return.

Here are tips to help children manage back to school anxiety:

Establish a consistent sleep schedule. Start your child on a school bedtime schedule several weeks ahead of time. Sleep cycle disruptions during summer can make anxiety even worse. Ideally, young people should have at least eight to nine hours of sleep at night. Consistent bedtimes and wake times are important. If necessary, restrict the use of electronic devices like smart phones at night.

Avoid the morning rush. To help ease anxiety in the morning when everyone is trying to get out the door, get ready for the school day the night before. Pack backpacks and pick out clothing the night before. Get lunch ready. Make sure homework is complete.

Keep the lines of communication open. Create an environment in which your child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings with you. Validate their feelings and remind them they are not alone in experiencing anxiety. Assure them you are there to support them.

Talk with school officials sooner rather than later. If your child is showing symptoms of school anxiety, talk with their guidance counselor and teachers about the situation and work with them to create a safe space at school. Find out what resources are available.

Recognize the signs of bullying. Bullying involves a variety of behaviors from pushing and teasing to leaving someone out of a group to spreading rumors and harassing over social media or text. If you suspect your child is being bullied, talk with school officials.

“If your child refuses to go to school or shows symptoms of school-related anxiety, seeking professional help is important," said Dr. Khare. “Parents should not hesitate to reach out to their pediatrician or a mental health professional if their children have trouble adjusting.”

Princeton House Behavioral Health, a division of Penn Medicine Princeton Health, is a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare. We offer relief at times when life becomes clouded by mental illness, emotional difficulties, or substance abuse. With both inpatient and outpatient care options, Princeton House Behavioral Health offers treatment programs that are customized to meet the needs of children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and older adults, along with specialized programs for men and women. Our inpatient services are in Princeton, while our outpatient sites are conveniently situated throughout the region in Princeton, North Brunswick, Hamilton, Moorestown, and Eatontown and via telehealth.

Contact: Jennifer McGinley
410-303-2252