With a new school term about to commence after the summer break, mental health expert Noel McDermott looks at how to handle transition issues and offers ways to help parents prepare their child in advance.
Preparing children before term starts
Parents can take several steps to ease the transition before school begins.
- Normalise feelings. Explain that it is okay to feel a bit low about going back to school, as it is a normal reaction.
- Encourage behavioural interventions. If your child shows signs of the blues when school starts, go back to basics and re-teach good sleep hygiene and regular family meals to catch up on the day and discuss any worries they might have.
- Treat your children. Especially when you think they deserve a lift or are low in mood, this will help them regulate their emotions. This can be as simple as movie nights cuddling up on the sofa as a family.
- Organise contact. Try to arrange contact with classmates before school begins, whether it be a playdate in the park or catching up online.
- Arrange a school visit. Try to arrange a visit to school before it begins to reacquaint your child, which experts call transition work.
- Get outside as a family. Nature lifts our mood even if it is a simple trip to your local park. Take a walk in a park or do a mindful meditation together. Both biophilia, an innate affinity between humans and the natural world, and mindfulness have been shown to lower stress while improving health and well-being.
McDermott said: “It’s important as a family to learn key skills to manage change. Enhance the positive. We know from research that having a positive view of major changes ameliorates any negative consequences in poor behaviour or relapses in unhelpful coping patterns, for example. Take note of all the things your kids like about school and make a list. Start those conversations well before the change happens. Remind your kids of their friends, favourite teachers, etc., so they have something positive to focus on.”
Signs of anxiety to watch for
- Nervousness. Feeling nervous or being on edge, such as sitting on the edge of your seat or biting your nails.
- Uncontrollable worrying. Not being able to stop or control worrying, feeling like your head is spinning like a hamster on a wheel.
- Overwhelmed thoughts. Worrying about too many different things at once and not being able to control these feelings.
- Relaxation difficulties. Difficulty relaxing.
- Restlessness. Being restless and unable to sit still, with constant fidgeting.
- Irritability. Becoming easily annoyed or irritable.
- Fearfulness. Feeling afraid as if something awful is going to happen.
When to seek professional help
Severity means looking at how high a rating you might give the symptoms. You know your child, so ask if the symptoms are unusually high this time. Longevity is considering whether these symptoms have hung around for more than a few days. In most cases, two weeks or more is a trigger for concern. Finally, consider functioning and how much these symptoms are interfering with your child’s life. Do they stop them seeing friends, going outside, or engaging in family life? If your child is struggling in these areas, it would be wise to seek a professional opinion.