How to reduce the stress of back to school?

Even if your child is excited to go back to school, he may also feel stressed about resuming a different routine from the holidays. This feeling is normal, especially after the Christmas holidays which are often sources of excitement and family time.

How do you know if your child is stressed?

Children are particularly sensitive to the stress caused by changes in their lives. Because of their developing brains, they have trouble imagining what is going to happen in advance.

Be aware of the signs that your child is experiencing stress. Changes in behavior are good indicators, but also difficulty falling asleep at night or waking up during the night. He can also become more sensitive and irritable at the end of the vacation and cry more often than usual.

How to reduce the stress of back to school?

Some children are able to ask questions about school in order to be reassured, but it is not always easy for them. In any case, even if he cannot verbalize his anxiety, do not hesitate to talk to him about it and help him put into words what he is going through. It is important to take your fears seriously.

Try to make school a positive experience for him by giving him a little more control over the situation. For this, you can for example:

• Pass by his school from time to time and talk together about the start of the school year, helping him imagine how things will turn out.
• Invite other children who are in the same school to share play experiences while waiting for recovery.
• Give him small responsibilities like putting away his clothes, his toys, tying his coat, or setting the table to promote his autonomy and give him confidence.

Finally, it is important that your child understands that there are things that will not change, such as knowing that his father will pick him up at the end of the day.

Find out more: “Max and Lili -: Lili is stressed by the start of the new school year”, by Dominique de Saint Mars and Serge Bloch, published by Calligram.

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