Its that time of year: the temperatures are still high but change is in the air. Days are getting shorter and the leaves will soon change and that means back to school for kids and teens across the country. While back to school time can be exciting it can also be stressful. If your son is prone to school anxiety it is worthwhile to take some time to talk to him about about his thoughts and feelings about the school year. Since boys often aren’t exactly thrilled to talk about their feelings it is helpful to have this talk while performing an enjoyable activity (e.g., shooting hoops, throwing a ball, drawing, playing a video game, etc.). Possible sources of anxiety to ask about include:
- conflict with friends or peers form last year that may have abated over the summer
- fear of new teachers or increases in workload
- dating concerns
- fear of new classroom, social groups, or school setting
- concern about performance in athletics
It is important to remind your son that he take the transition to school one step at a time and that the fear of the unknown is usually worse than whatever he will face at school. Also, provide support and comfort that you will be there for him no matter what comes up this year and together you can manage it. Finally, make the last week of summer fun! Go fishing, go for a walk or run, take one last trip to the beach, have an ice cream cone, watch a baseball game, or just hang out together but take advantage of this time before schedules get hectic in September.