Positive Young Minds
  • HOME
    • About Kim
    • Session Fee Policy
    • FAQ
    • Online Bookings
    • Links
  • Children & Adolescents
    • COUNSELLING
    • Learning Difficulties
  • Parents
    • How to talk to teens
    • Looking after yourself
  • Self-Care for Psychologists
    • Small Group Program
    • Online Course
  • Mindfulness
    • Mindfulness For Children
    • For Teens
  • BLOG

Creating Connection 

Is your child anxious about starting school?

15/1/2019

 
Is your child anxious about starting school?

​I remember when my eldest child started school. They were was so excited.  I was anxious... Will they like it, what will their teacher be like, how can I help, do I stay in the classroom?  The questions were endless.  We had done some orientation but it was still a bit scarey.  Together we negotiated the year.  They had a wonderful teacher.  She was strict, but clear, with us newbie parents and we felt a part of the class. 


If you're feeling some of my first day at school nerves, have a think about your first day at a new job, or walking into a new group of people.  What helps - some knowledge, preparation, confidence, a friendly smile - these will help your child too.  Drop them off confidently with a big smile, your confidence will transfer to your child (then meet up with the other Prep parents to express your concerns and try and find answers to your questions). 

Picture
  • Allow them to wear their uniform, including shoes to get used to the different feeling.

Knowledge
Share with your child what you know about the school, their teacher, the classroom,  go over the information you received at orientation.

Preparation
  • Help your child to become familiar with the setting, routines and activities they will participate in at school. 
  • These include activities such as spending time at the school when there are no students there. 
  • Give your child a map of the school and go there on weekends, holidays or after school hours so that they can develop a mental visual map of their surrounds.  
  • Depending on the school their playground may be available for public use.  If so, let them play in the playground and become familiar with the school.  Be aware if there are particular areas of the school they must and must not play in.  Use this knowledge to determine where you allow them to play in the playground.
  • A few weeks before the start of school eating snack and lunch at the same time they will be eating them at school, from the same container.  Make sure you are familiar with rules around food, including ‘nude’ food, whether or not nuts are allowed, how long they have to eat etc.  Let them practice using their lunchbox - and check for things like whether or not they can open it.
  • Allow them to wear their uniform, including shoes to get used to the different feeling.

Confidence
  • If they are worried, talk to them about what they are worried about. Explain that most people feel a bit anxious when they are starting something new.  Share a time when you felt anxious.  This helps normalise their feelings. Practice some calming strategies such as mindfulness.
  • Talk about this and problem solve with them.  It may be helpful to write this down. 
  • Share stories from when you started school.
  • Help them see their anxiety as anticipation - like it feels just before going on a ride at the show.
  • Ask the librarian to help you find relevant books to read to them about starting school – there are quite a few around.
  • Remind them of other times they have started new activities and how they coped.
  • Remind them of their strengths - whether it be friendliness, determination, cognitive ability, sense of humour, creativity etc.
Picture
Signs of excessive anxiety in your child
These may include them continually asking you the same questions; having nightmares; changes in their eating or sleeping habits or other behaviour; crying or becoming angry for no reason; regressing to previous developmental stages such as wetting the bed, sucking their thumbs; saying they don’t want to go to school; and/or showing no interest in going to school.

Nothing seems to help
If you find these strategies are not helping maybe your child is not ready for school.  There is no evidence supporting that starting your child at school early is beneficial.  In many cases giving them a bonus year at Kindergarten is the best decision.  If you want to talk through these options you are welcome to make an appointment, just call or send me an email..  You may also find it helpful to get individually focused assistance for your child to learn anxiety management strategies.  

ps having your child first start school is one of THE parenting milestones.   It may be a trigger for assessing what's now most important in your life, it may give you the opportunity to look at who you really are and whether your life is how you want it to be.  If that's the case for you, the free From Overwhelm to Calm worksheet may help.

Comments are closed.
    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All
    Christmas
    Family Dynamics
    Happiness
    Kindness
    Mindfulness
    Noticing Emotions
    Parenting
    Psychologists
    School
    School Holidays
    Self Care
    Simplify
    Sleep
    Strengths

    RSS Feed

    Disclaimer

    * My aim is for these posts is meant to useful, interesting and/or inspiring. They are not designed to be used for therapy..  If you are experiencing stress please contact your GP or mental health professional. 

    Author

    Kim Ross is a Psychologist and Founder of Positive Young Minds and Essential Self-Care for Psychologists. 

Kim Ross - helping you learn positive mental health strategies for a calmer, happier and healthier life.

POSITIVE YOUNG MINDS
Creating Calm, Connection and Confidence in yourself and your future.
Positive Young Minds donates 2% of income to initiatives that benefit the environment and/or local mental health of youth.  One of the organisations we support is Bush Heritage Australia. 


Call: +61 408 533 515

I work with people from all backgrounds, beliefs and experiences.  I believe everyone should have the freedom to be themselves and valued for their differences.  It's what makes our world go round.
Fax: +61390864164

@2021 Kim Ross | ABN 35811757812 ! All Rights Reserved ! Terms and Conditions ! Privacy 
Photo used under Creative Commons from fred_v
  • HOME
    • About Kim
    • Session Fee Policy
    • FAQ
    • Online Bookings
    • Links
  • Children & Adolescents
    • COUNSELLING
    • Learning Difficulties
  • Parents
    • How to talk to teens
    • Looking after yourself
  • Self-Care for Psychologists
    • Small Group Program
    • Online Course
  • Mindfulness
    • Mindfulness For Children
    • For Teens
  • BLOG