At the start of a new schoolyear, anxiety frequently starts to pop-up. If your child starts to show signs of worry, you are not alone. About 1 in 8 children suffer from anxiety.*
Here are three simple ways to help your child transition from worry into security and self-confidence, no matter how much they’re dreading school.
Reframe “smart.”
There are many ways to be smart. And, your child’s ultimate success life is not solely determined by their performance relative to their grade-level. (check out my personal experience here)
Work with your child to make a list of strengths that have nothing to do with grades. Consciously affirm and reinforce them. Here’s a fun strengths checklist and positive practice to keep optimistic thoughts top-of-mind.
One-size-does-not fit all.
Figure out your child’s learning style with a quiz. It’s fun to have the whole family take a quiz, and it shows there is more than one learning style. Once you know your child’s learning style, you can start to support their individual strengths and opportunities for growth.
Preparation and previewing reduce new schoolyear anxiety.
Another great way to start prepping for the year is establishing your relationship with your teacher. Whether your child will be distance learning or in-person, it’s more important than ever to write up a letter together that shares a bit about them as a person, their learning styles, and any supports that have worked well in the past.
If you can visit the teacher in person or on a video chat, even better. The more you practice and prepare, the fewer questions your child will have, and the lower their new schoolyear anxiety will be.
Good luck! And remember, progress over perfection.
