Preparing for the new school year is a fundamental step to ensure a child's psychological and social adjustment during their studies. It helps equip them to achieve successful and outstanding academic performance. However, some students may feel anxiety or fear at the beginning of the school year, which is a somewhat natural feeling that can also affect parents and teachers.
Therefore, it is important to identify the causes of a child's school-related anxiety, learn how to deal with it, and psychologically prepare the child to welcome the school year, then see it through and achieve the best results.
What is School Anxiety?
School anxiety or academic anxiety is a psychological state that affects students, where the child feels excessive tension or worry at the start of the school year. Cases of anxiety may persist throughout the school year, manifesting as a fear of participating in school activities or attending daily classes.
Causes of a Child's Anxiety at the Start of School
Studies have shown that the causes of a child's anxiety about school are numerous and varied, including social and psychological reasons, such as:
First: Psychological Causes
- Fear of separation from parents or not feeling safe when away from them.
- Stress from the idea of facing a new environment.
- Fear of inability to succeed or failure in the new school year.
- Low self-confidence.
Second: Social Causes
- Fear of making new friends.
- The student's fear of being bullied.
- The child may suffer from social introversion.
- The child being exposed to family pressures.
Signs Indicating a Child's School Anxiety
Some signs or symptoms of anxiety often appear clearly on the student, and it is important for parents to notice them. These signs include:
- Refusing to go to school and frequent crying.
- Isolation or introversion and withdrawal from school activities.
- Loss of self-confidence and repeating phrases like: "I'm scared" or "I can't do it."
- Extreme clinginess to parents.
- Stomach aches, frequent nausea, and loss of appetite.
- Confusion, excessive sweating, and lack of concentration.
- Decline in academic level and forgetting school supplies and homework.
The Family's Role in Preparing the Child for School
The family plays an important role in psychologically preparing the child before the start of the school year, evident through:
- Boosting the child's self-confidence by encouraging and motivating them for the new school year.
- Preparing and organizing school supplies with the child.
- Establishing a daily routine a few days before school starts so the child gets used to waking up and going to bed early.
- Cooperating with the child to do their homework easily.
- Taking an interest in knowing about daily school activities and discussing the school day with the child.
Tips for Mothers on the First School Day
The mother's role is the most important and influential on the child's psychological state. Her readiness for the start of school is as crucial as the child's readiness, as she is the child's primary supporter. This can be achieved by:
- Talking positively about school before it starts to excite the child and ease their tension.
- Waking up early to prepare a daily, healthy lunchbox for the child containing colorful foods and fruits that appeal to them and give them energy.
- Encouraging the child and rebuilding their self-confidence.
- Welcoming the child warmly upon their return from school, listening calmly to their account of the school day, and praising their school activities.
How Does the School Contribute to Addressing Student Anxiety?
The school contributes to reducing a child's anxiety about school and exams through:
- Respecting the student and accepting their opinion in the classroom.
- Having a psychologist and social specialist to monitor students' cases and provide them with support.
- Organizing sports, artistic, and other social activities to help students release negative energy and calm their tension towards studying and schoolwork.
- Not assigning difficult homework at the beginning of the school year, allowing the student to adapt to the new school year and new curricula.
- Communicating with the student's family and working as one team to support the student's psychological state.
Activities to Reduce a Child's School Anxiety
Some activities may help alleviate a child's anxiety about school, such as:
- Reading positive stories about studying and school.
- Encouraging the child to make friends and participate with other students in school activities.
- Role-playing a skit of teacher and students at home with the child and family members.
- Practicing morning exercises and relaxation techniques.
When Does a Child Need a Psychological Specialist?
A child may need to see a psychological specialist when their school anxiety persists for a long time and its effect on them becomes clearly apparent, both psychologically and physically, along with repeated attempts to avoid going to school. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a psychological specialist directly.
Similarly, the child may suffer from sleep disturbances or have recurrent frightening dreams about school, causing them insomnia and a decline in their academic level. They may also display behaviors of complete isolation, severe introversion, or aggression. When these signs appear and persist for a period during the school year, a psychological specialist should be consulted to support the child and help them overcome anxiety.
Summary of How to Deal with Children's School Anxiety
It is natural for some children to feel anxious at the beginning of school, especially when moving from one school to another, feeling difficulty in making new friends, or fearing separation from parents. Therefore, it is the family's role to understand the reasons for this anxiety or fear.
Cooperation between the family and the school plays a major role in supporting the child's psychological health through recreational activities and relaxation exercises to reduce stress. With this integrated support, the child becomes more psychologically and behaviorally prepared to adapt to school and achieve academic excellence.