~6 Reasons~
Kids Get Anxious About School
New situations
Whether your child is facing the first day in a new grade or the first day in a new school, it's normal to feel nervous in a new situation. Talk about what the first day of school will be like. “When children know what to expect, they experience less anxiety about a situation,” explains School Psychologist Erin L. Enyart, Ed. S.. Remind your child that everyone feels a little anxious, and allow time for him to adjust. Point out that pretty soon, the situation will be routine and comfortable. If possible, adjust your schedule so that you have extra time with your child, especially right after school, for the first few days.
Failure Kids worry that their schoolwork will be too hard, they won’t be able to keep up, or they won’t know the correct answer when called on in class. Remind your child that everyone makes mistakes, then praise her best efforts.
Test anxiety Many kids are scared of testing situations. They worry ahead of time, and are unable to perform on the day of the test. One way to help is to offer to help your child study so he feels well prepared. Remind him that he knows the information, and that you are confident he will do well.
Social anxiety Kids worry about fitting in, making friends, what others think of them, being teased, and being left out. Encourage your child to face, rather than avoid, social situations, and talk about ways to make friends. According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), teaching children social skills, problem solving, and conflict resolution supports good mental health.
Grades Some kids worry about whether or not they’ll be able to earn all A’s in math, make the honor roll, or maintain a certain grade point average. Remind your child that you do not expect perfection.
Stress Some kids become anxious or stressed out when they feel that their school environment is unorganized, or that classroom expectations are unreasonable. The NASP suggests that parents can help kids learn to deal constructively with challenging situations by offering to help come up with a solution together when your child tells you about a problem.