Help kids get back to school by changing anxiety to anticipation and excitement

BOSTON -- Saying goodbye to the care free days of summer can be tough.

"Every year, I feel a little bit, you know, worried," one elementary school boy told WBZ-TV while he was visiting Castle Island in South Boston recently.

"You want to validate that. Say it's ok, it's normal," advised Massachusetts General Hospital Child Psychologist Ellen Braaten. 

To help ease that anxiety, Braaten suggests parents start the transition a few days before classes begin. 

"You want to make sure you've got good sleep schedules. Get back on track sleeping, eating. Also, make sure if your child has been away from their friends for the summer that they get back in touch with them." 

For younger kids, parents may want to practice the school drop-off routine, spend time on the playground or visit the classroom if the building is open, experts suggest.

So how does a parent know when it's just normal back-to-school jitters and when they should be concerned?

"The thing you want to look for is significant physical symptoms. Headache, stomach ache and school refusal, which is really an extreme thing when it happens," Braaten said.

Braaten also warns parents of teens to be aware of any changes in behavior, particularly sleeping or eating habits. 

"I really feel like the pandemic and all the changes with that really hit that age group hard," she said.

If parents are concerned, they can contact the school so that teachers and administrators are aware the child might need some extra support.

The simplest advice, according to Braaten, is to remain positive. 

"Change the narrative from one of anxiety to one of anticipation and excitement," she told WBZ.