SURREY, B.C. — As students return to classrooms for a new school year, Fraser Health is encouraging parents and caregivers to watch for signs of back-to-school anxiety and help children and youth adjust to changing routines, relationships and academic expectations.
While the beginning of school can be an exciting time, the transition can also create uncertainty for students of all ages. Concerns can range from making friends and fitting in to managing schoolwork, entering a new school or simply dealing with an unfamiliar environment.
Back-to-School Anxiety Can Affect Students of All Ages
Fraser Health says some nervousness around the beginning of the school year is a normal response, particularly when children are facing new situations.
“Some nervousness about going back to school is completely normal, especially when children and youth are facing something new or uncertain,” shares Nelam Sall, program lead, Integrated Child and Youth, Mental Health and Substance Use Services, Fraser Health. “Parents and caregivers can start by asking what they’re worried about and really listening to what they have to say. Sometimes just feeling heard and talking through those worries together can help a child feel more prepared and supported.”
Anxiety may not always appear as obvious worry. According to Fraser Health, children experiencing difficulty with the transition may have trouble sleeping, become more irritable or report physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches.
Parents may also notice changes in mood or behaviour, including attempts to avoid conversations, preparations or activities connected with school.
Establishing Routines Can Help Ease the Transition
Families can take several practical steps to make the transition back to the classroom easier. Fraser Health recommends gradually restoring regular sleep, meal and morning routines before school begins.
Parents and caregivers can also discuss what the first day or first week will look like, particularly with students entering a new school or experiencing another significant change.
Open-ended conversations can help children explain both what they are looking forward to and what is making them nervous. Rather than immediately telling children not to worry, caregivers are encouraged to acknowledge and validate their feelings.
Families can also remind children of challenges they have successfully managed in the past and discuss strategies they can use when they begin to feel overwhelmed. Identifying trusted people at home and at school can give students additional sources of support.
Building Confidence by Working Through Worries
When children say they are frightened or do not want to attend school, Fraser Health recommends first trying to understand the reason behind those feelings. Breaking concerns into smaller, manageable steps can help students build confidence as they adjust.
As Nelam explains, “We can’t take away every uncomfortable feeling, but we can help children learn that they can cope with them.”
For many children and youth, anxiety is expected to ease once classes begin and familiar routines become established. However, Fraser Health says parents should continue monitoring symptoms when anxiety persists or becomes more severe.
When Families Should Consider Seeking Additional Support
Warning signs may include anxiety that interferes with sleep, relationships, everyday activities or a student’s ability to attend school. Persistent or worsening symptoms may indicate that additional assistance could be beneficial.
“Families don’t need to wait until a child is in crisis to ask for help,” explains Nelam. “If their anxiety isn’t easing, is becoming more intense or is starting to interfere with school, relationships or everyday life, it’s a good time to reach out for some additional support.”
Fraser Health provides hospital and community-based health services across the Fraser Salish region through a workforce of more than 50,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers.
The health authority recognizes that it provides care on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. The Fraser Salish region is home to 32 First Nations, and Fraser Health says its services are dedicated to supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit people as well as the broader communities it serves.
More information about child and youth mental health resources and available supports is available through Fraser Health’s youth mental health services.