School's back in session. Help your child minimize the fear factor.
By Gina Shaw
WebMD Magazine - Feature
Reviewed by Roy Benaroch, MD
Remember the last time you started a new job? You were probably a little stressed and anxious about how things would go. What would your boss be like? Would you get along with your coworkers? How would you handle the commute?
Your child has similar worries about a new school year -- plus, she's a kid and hasn't gone through as many of these transitions as you have. "One of our biggest fears as humans is the unknown, and starting a new school year involves a lot of unknowns," says Laura Markham, PhD. She is a clinical psychologist and author ofPeaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting.
Markham says that with a little understanding, parents can help children take their new-classroom (and even new-school) fears and turn them into excitement.
Help your child bond with his teacher. "Kids need to feel connected with their teacher in order to focus in class, learn, and be happy going to school," says Markham. If your school offers an orientation program or back-to-school night, take your child and introduce him to the teacher. Try to get a photo of the new teacher from a school newsletter or web site, post it on the refrigerator, and "talk to the teacher" from time to time.
Learn the ropes. Switching to a new school? Ask the office if you can visit during the last weeks of summer. "Even if you can just spend 2 minutes introducing yourself, letting your child stick her head in the library, and play on the playgrounda little, that's big," says Markham.
Use books to start conversations. Go to the library and look for back-to-school stories -- there are many, aimed at different age levels.
Please click on the link to continue reading and find similar articles: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/back-to-school-anxiety
By Gina Shaw
WebMD Magazine - Feature
Reviewed by Roy Benaroch, MD
Remember the last time you started a new job? You were probably a little stressed and anxious about how things would go. What would your boss be like? Would you get along with your coworkers? How would you handle the commute?
Your child has similar worries about a new school year -- plus, she's a kid and hasn't gone through as many of these transitions as you have. "One of our biggest fears as humans is the unknown, and starting a new school year involves a lot of unknowns," says Laura Markham, PhD. She is a clinical psychologist and author ofPeaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting.
Markham says that with a little understanding, parents can help children take their new-classroom (and even new-school) fears and turn them into excitement.
Help your child bond with his teacher. "Kids need to feel connected with their teacher in order to focus in class, learn, and be happy going to school," says Markham. If your school offers an orientation program or back-to-school night, take your child and introduce him to the teacher. Try to get a photo of the new teacher from a school newsletter or web site, post it on the refrigerator, and "talk to the teacher" from time to time.
Learn the ropes. Switching to a new school? Ask the office if you can visit during the last weeks of summer. "Even if you can just spend 2 minutes introducing yourself, letting your child stick her head in the library, and play on the playgrounda little, that's big," says Markham.
Use books to start conversations. Go to the library and look for back-to-school stories -- there are many, aimed at different age levels.
Please click on the link to continue reading and find similar articles: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/back-to-school-anxiety
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