Helping Children Manage Back-to-School Anxiety

MOBILE, Ala., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the first day of school right around the corner, many children – and their parents – are experiencing a mix of excitement and worry. Experts remind families that not all anxiety is bad and that preparing early can help children start the year with confidence.

"Feeling anxious is a way our brains, hearts, and souls signal that something isn't quite right," said John Olsen, MD., AltaPointe Health. "While anxiety can be uncomfortable, healthy anxiety can motivate us to act, learn, and grow. Unhealthy anxiety, on the other hand, can feel like a prison, keeping us stuck and isolated."

Dr. Olsen is a psychiatrist with AltaPointe Health's Foley location. Dr. Olsen says anxiety in children can present in many ways.

Recognizing the Signs

• Irritability or excessive worry
  
  
• Sleep disturbances or nightmares
  
  
• Headaches, stomachaches, or appetite changes
  
  
• Clinginess, tearfulness, or difficulty concentrating
  
  
• Avoidance of school or somatic complaints without a medical cause

Younger children may even regress, showing behaviors like bedwetting or tantrums. Common triggers include separation from parents, new social situations, academic worries, unfamiliar environments, and changes to daily routines.

Dr. Olsen provides practical tips for parents to help families ease back-to-school jitters.

• Creating consistent routines for waking up, meals, and bedtime
  
  
• Visiting the school ahead of time and meeting the teacher
  
  
• Practicing the route to school to build familiarity
  
  
• Talking openly about what to expect in the first weeks
  
  
• Modeling calm behavior and validating their child's feelings
  
  
• Using coping tools like deep breathing, mindfulness, or visual schedules

Predictable routines and open communication are key, agrees Shay Robinson, AltaPointe Health's coordinator of school-based therapy services.

"If your child is being nervous to the point where they don't want to get out of bed to go, or they're begging to stay home, or they become avoidant in those situations, then we need to be doing something differently," said Robinson.

Robinson adds that back-to-school anxiety doesn't just affect students; it can impact parents too. And when parents let their stress show, kids can pick up on it. "If the child feels like you're anxious, the child may become more anxious," said Robinson. "It's imperative that parents model the behaviors they want their children to exhibit."

When to Seek Help

Experts recommend a mental health evaluation if anxiety persists for several weeks, worsens over time, or interferes with daily life, such as refusing to attend school or experiencing unexplained physical symptoms. Early intervention can prevent long-term emotional and academic challenges.

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SOURCE AltaPointe Health Systems