Back to School Season Doesn't Have to Be Stressful, These Tips Can Help

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrioritize Self-CareCommunication and SupportCreating a Structured RoutineManaging Expectations and PressureBuilding Resilience and Coping Strategies

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Prioritize Self-Care

Communication and Support

Creating a Structured Routine

Managing Expectations and Pressure

Building Resilience and Coping Strategies

As the slower and relaxed pace of summer vacation comes to an end, parents and their kids are getting ready to go back to school. Shifts in new routines and schedules can disrupt family dynamics and patterns that were established during the summer months. From financial and academic concerns toseparation anxiety, this transition can be a significantsource of stressfor parents and kids.

Each family is unique and experiences individual stressors. For instance, one parent may not feel the same about changes in routine compared to another. This article explores how parents can manage the stress of their kids going back to school.

During this transition, it’s important to have compassion for yourself, attend to your own needs, and prioritize self-care. When parents feel stressed, their children feel it too, which can negatively affect their behavior.

To deal with the stress of going back to school, you can first take a step back, notice how you’re feeling, and acknowledge that you need to engage inself-care practices.

There are many ways parents can prioritize their emotional and physical well-being. “This can include setting aside time for activities they enjoy, such as exercise, reading, or spending time with friends,” advises Kenzi Locks, creator ofGrowforth Family Building, licensed clinical social worker, health and wellness coach, and family building expert.

Parents can embed variousrelaxation techniquesthat can help reduce stress, likedeep breathingexercises or meditation. These do not have to take a long time to do and can be integrated throughout your day. For instance, you can try chore meditation, mindful walking, or meditation during transitions.

Managing multiple responsibilities, such as attending school-related events, packing lunches, and organizing drop-offs and pick-ups, can contribute toparental stressduring this time.

Financial strain can put pressure on families. Parents may need to adjust their work hours, pay for extracurricular activities, after-school care, and purchase school supplies and/or uniforms, impacting their family’s financial situation.

Parents may experience anxiety about their child’s social interactions. For instance, they may worry about how their children are fitting in with their friends and peers. Bullying is more common in later elementary and middle school years.

“[Bullying] is often a bigger worry if the child themself, their older siblings, or even the parent has struggled with fitting in or bullies in the past,” adds Locks.

Regular communication is crucial in ensuring a family’s concerns are addressed, and the adjustment occurs smoothly. Establish an open dialogue, encourage honest conversations, and cultivate a safe environment to talk about the issues.

For example, you can schedule a weekly family check-in. This dedicated time allows parents and kids to have the opportunity to talk about what’s been going on, brainstorm ways to help each other, offer support orseek help from a professional.

It’s important that you know you are not alone in what you are going through. There are other parents going through a similar experience; sharing your issues together can help you feel validated and less alone with a sense of community. Talking to a professional counselor can also help you gain perspective and learneffective ways to cope.

Locks explains, “Seeking social support through talking to trusted friends, joining support groups, or seeking professional counseling can provide an outlet for parents to process their emotions and receive guidance.”

Seeking social support through talking to trusted friends, joining support groups, or seeking professional counseling can provide an outlet for parents to process their emotions and receive guidance.—KENZI LOCKS, LCSW, CREATOR OF GROWFORTH FAMILY BUILDING

Seeking social support through talking to trusted friends, joining support groups, or seeking professional counseling can provide an outlet for parents to process their emotions and receive guidance.

—KENZI LOCKS, LCSW, CREATOR OF GROWFORTH FAMILY BUILDING

Establishing aconsistent daily routinecan benefit children and parents while adjusting to the school schedule.

“Time management techniques such as prioritizing tasks, delegating responsibilities, and establishing a structured routine can help parents feel more in control and reduce stress,” explains Locks.

Some tips can include:

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Parents want the best for their children. They want them to grow up and become happy, healthy, and well-adjusted individuals. Some parents view academic performance as an indicator of future success. This belief can put pressure and create school-based anxiety for children, making them feel their self-worth is tied to their grades.

Start with an open dialogue with your child and their teacher. This can help you better understand your child’slearning style, strengths, and opportunities. Then you can help your child set realistic and attainable goals tailored to their needs.

Locks emphasizes that every child’s abilities are unique. While some can naturally finish school work on time and ace tests easily, others may struggle. It’s important to avoid comparing children to their siblings or to other children in the family’s life.

“Encouraging a love for learning, emphasizing effort over outcome, and celebrating small achievements can help foster a healthy approach to academic expectations,” adds Locks.

Healthy Ways to Celebrate Success

Transition periods can be overwhelming for parents; building resilience and adopting effective coping strategies can make a significant difference in navigating the challenges of the back-to-school period.

Practicing self-care can be an effective way to reduce stress and improve quality of life.

Locks shares that it’s helpful for parents to practicestress reduction techniqueslike deep breathing, mindfulness, or engaging in activities that promote relaxation. It’s been shown that parents who practicemindfulness in their parentingand in relationships can improve child outcomes, family health, and well-being.

Back-to-school stress can impact the dynamic between couples. The added anxiety can make partners feel on edge and resentful, blaming each other for problems instead of tackling them together as a team. “For couples, it’s paramount to have open communication about your changing needs during this transitional time,” advises Locks.

Encouraging a love for learning, emphasizing effort over outcome, and celebrating small achievements can help foster a healthy approach to academic expectations.—KENZI LOCKS, LCSW

Encouraging a love for learning, emphasizing effort over outcome, and celebrating small achievements can help foster a healthy approach to academic expectations.

—KENZI LOCKS, LCSW

Locks shares that having compassion for yourself and your child, practicing gratitude, embracing flexibility, andreframing negative thoughtswith a positive outlook can help parents navigate the stressful back-to-school transition more effectively.

How to Beat the End-of-Summer Blues

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fields A, Harmon C, Lee Z, Louie JY, Tottenham N.Parent’s anxiety links household stress and young children’s behavioral dysregulation.Dev Psychobiol. 2021;63(1):16–30.Ayala EE, Winseman JS, Johnsen RD, Mason HRC.U.S. medical students who engage in self-care report less stress and higher quality of life.BMC Medical Education. 2018;18(1):189.Bögels SM, Emerson LM.The mindful family: a systemic approach to mindfulness, relational functioning, and somatic and mental health.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2019;28:138–142.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fields A, Harmon C, Lee Z, Louie JY, Tottenham N.Parent’s anxiety links household stress and young children’s behavioral dysregulation.Dev Psychobiol. 2021;63(1):16–30.Ayala EE, Winseman JS, Johnsen RD, Mason HRC.U.S. medical students who engage in self-care report less stress and higher quality of life.BMC Medical Education. 2018;18(1):189.Bögels SM, Emerson LM.The mindful family: a systemic approach to mindfulness, relational functioning, and somatic and mental health.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2019;28:138–142.

Fields A, Harmon C, Lee Z, Louie JY, Tottenham N.Parent’s anxiety links household stress and young children’s behavioral dysregulation.Dev Psychobiol. 2021;63(1):16–30.Ayala EE, Winseman JS, Johnsen RD, Mason HRC.U.S. medical students who engage in self-care report less stress and higher quality of life.BMC Medical Education. 2018;18(1):189.Bögels SM, Emerson LM.The mindful family: a systemic approach to mindfulness, relational functioning, and somatic and mental health.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2019;28:138–142.

Fields A, Harmon C, Lee Z, Louie JY, Tottenham N.Parent’s anxiety links household stress and young children’s behavioral dysregulation.Dev Psychobiol. 2021;63(1):16–30.

Ayala EE, Winseman JS, Johnsen RD, Mason HRC.U.S. medical students who engage in self-care report less stress and higher quality of life.BMC Medical Education. 2018;18(1):189.

Bögels SM, Emerson LM.The mindful family: a systemic approach to mindfulness, relational functioning, and somatic and mental health.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2019;28:138–142.

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