INDIANA – The start of another school year is getting underway, and that can trigger some anxiety among younger students. There are things you can do to help minimize your child’s concerns, according to Dr. Marcia Slattery, director of the University of Wisconsin’s Health Anxiety Disorder Program. She says you’ll likely notice that younger school-age children may become more irritable as the onset of school approaches.
Dr. Slattery works with parents and children who have serious anxiety problems, helping them practice being in situations that make them apprehensive and learn to control their anxiety in those situations. She says visiting the school with your child before the start of the school year can help reduce their concerns about unknowns.
She says having anxiety about being in a new school or a new grade with new students is nothing to be overly concerned about. All children will have some anxiety about any kind of change.
According to Dr. Slattery, it’s important to listen to and respond to your child’s questions about the upcoming school year.
If you suspect your child may have a real problem with anxiety, she says the first step is to talk with your pediatrician, who will help you figure out the next best steps for your child and the family.