Tip Tuesday: 6 tips for calming first-day jitters

Going back to school can bring anxiety for kids. These tips can help ease them into the school year. [Understood's Home Page]( [Tip Tuesday]( 6 tips for dealing with back-to-school anxiety As a new school year approaches, your child may be full of excitement and curiosity. They may also feel intense stress and anxiety. But first-day jitters are normal, and you can help your child manage them. Here are six tips for dealing with back-to-school anxiety: 1. Talk about feelings. Kids may not always find it easy to share their feelings — especially if they’re feeling anxious. As the school year approaches, [give your child plenty of opportunities to tell you how they feel](. Say things like, “You seem a little grumpy lately, and that’s not like you. Are you thinking about school?” Try to keep conversations casual, and let them know it’s normal to feel anxious. 2. Go over the class list. Knowing who will be in their class can help kids feel ready. Not all schools give out class lists, but you may be able to ask for one. Then you can talk about kids they know — and how to deal with kids they’ve had challenges with in the past. 3. Run through the day. A lot of [anxiety about the new school year]( may be from your child’s schedule changing. Going over their new daily routine can help. [Talk about what their morning will look like](. Will they get up earlier? Do they know where you’ll take them to get the bus? [How to help your child manage back-to-school anxiety]( 4. Practice first-day conversations. Rehearse the types of conversations they may have on the first day. Practice how to say hi to new and familiar faces. Remind them it’s OK if [social situations make them nervous](. Anyone can feel shy in new places. 5. Talk about the teacher. Many kids worry that their new teacher will be mean or not like them. They might feel sad that they don’t have an old teacher they grew to love. Reassure your child that their new teacher is there to support them. Tell them you and the teacher [will work together]( help them. [Why and how to partner with your child’s teacher]( 6. Talk about school support. If your child has an IEP, a 504 plan, or [informal classroom supports]( explain how these work. Let them know if they’re allowed to have more time on assignments or use a quiet room. If your child has a go-to person like a counselor, try to have them meet that person ahead of time.   Throughout all of this, remind your child that they’re not alone. A new school year can be scary. But it also gives them the opportunity to learn new things and have lots of fun.   Discover what’s possible with Understood [Our mission]( | story |]( team |]( partners |]( experts]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [TikTok]( [LinkedIn]( [Pinterest]( As a nonprofit, we rely on donors like you. [Give today]( Understood for All Inc. 96 Morton Street, Floor 5, New York, NY 10014, United States Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( | For more information, please review our [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms of Use](