Back to School: Handling first-day of school anxiety

Going off to school for the first time can be an anxious time for both parents and children, however health experts say it doesn’t have to be.

Dr. Jennifer Freeman is a child psychologist at Bradley Hospital in East Providence, she says the first day of school is challenging due to separation issues and adapting to a new environment.

She says the easiest way to curb this anxiety is to start getting into a school routine early.

"[Start] practicing ahead of time, practicing the routines, start to get up on time and kind of go through the day,” says Freeman “Think about what you want to have in your lunchbox, going to the school, so meeting the teacher, walking around the school building."

Freeman elaborates that anxiety is perfectly normal and that parents should be supportive but firm; the anxious phase will pass eventually.

"If as we start getting later in the fall, it's still a problem. It's still feeling like a chore to go to the school every day, kids are very sick or having a lot of somatic complaints, they're throwing up or doing things that seem out of the ordinary or really are just unable to get into the school building, that's when it starts to feel or look more like an anxiety disorder."

by BARBARA MORSE SILVA, NBC 10 NEWS Wednesday, August 17th 2016

Q1

According to Dr. Jennifer Freeman, what are the two reasons that might lead to back-to-school anxiety?

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Q2

According to Freeman, what is the best policy to conquer back-to-school anxiety? List three examples.

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Q3

What can parents do to help their children that suffer from back-to-school anxiety?

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Sources:

http://turnto10.com/features/health-landing-page/back-to-school-handling-first-day-of-school-anxiety

http://media.virginradio.fr/article-2772164-ajust_930/le-pire-du-bac-2015.jpg

A1

Separation issues and adapting to a new environment are the two main reasons that lead to back-to-school anxiety

A2

The best way to conquer back-to-school anxiety is to start getting into a school routine early. For example: starting to get up on time, thinking about lunchbox, going to the school, meeting the teacher, walking around the school building and so on.

A3

Be supportive and firm.