CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A new school year can mean excitement for some kids, but for others, anxiety can overshadow that joy.
Whether your child is the new kid at school or they're transitioning from middle school to high school, medical director of Corpus Christi Medical Center Bayview, psychiatrist Dr. John Lusins says back-to-school anxiety is real and can cause your child to act differently than they normally would.
“Heading back to school is a different time. It's time for transitions, time to get back into the swing of things. Whenever there's transitions in a child's life, things can be kind of hectic," he said.
While new beginnings may be exciting for some children, Dr. Lusins says that's not the case for every child.
Children display anxiety differently than adults do. That's why leading up to the school year, he says it's important to watch out for changes in your child's behavior.
"Sometimes you'll see things like irritability or refusal to follow the rules more so than they had before. They might have sleep disturbances, appetite disturbances,” he said. “They might just be trying to tell you something that they're uncomfortable telling you. Signs are all over the place, but really the biggest thing is listening."
When it comes to supporting your child's transition to the new school year, the CDC recommends creating a predictable daily home routine for your child and helping them develop strategies to manage their stress.
Dr. Lusins adds that talking to your child's school counselors and teachers also goes a long way.
“I think early on it's really about assuring them that everything is still going to be OK, they're going to be safe at school, still going to have friends, they're going to have peers.” he said. “And reaching out to the teachers if there's any other concerns that the children are having and letting them know 'Hey, little Johnny is having some problems and he's kind of anxious. Can you please keep an eye on him?' Teachers want to hear these things."
For more expert tips on how to help you child ahead of the new school year, click here.