Back to School Nerves - the Children or the Parents?

Today with the return to schools, the BBC published an article regarding the anxieties of children returning to school - please read this article here.

Unlike the usual September worries of a new school uniform, new classes, move to a different school, etc, this year it is also the parents who are particularly anxious. It has been a long and strange year, where the levels of anxiety throughout the world have dramatically increased.

If you are feeling particularly worried, try to remember that we have a great education system and the teachers are as prepared as possible for the term. If not already, talk through your concerns with your child’s teacher (you may find the class teacher is too busy on drop-off as they have so much to do, therefore it may be worth booking in a time or seeing a senior member of staff).

It’s important that we talk about what is happening and share this strange burden of Covid-19 and it’s impact. Remember also, that you are not the only one and that anxiety seeks out anxiety - so being overly anxious in front of your child will likely increase their fears too, better to book in some time to talk to your friends or other parents at school when you can. Try to talk your worries through face-to-face over a cup of tea rather than messaging online if possible as face-to-face conversation holds more benefits.

Strange as it sounds, children will on the most part have benefitted from all the time at home -initial studies have shown a reduction in anxiety for teenagers over the last six months and research highlights the importance of play and relaxation in developing the pre-frontal cortex part of the brain responsible for learning and relating. It might be that in the next months and year to follow we see results suggesting that the impact of lockdown was less detrimental on learning than imagined.

I am a child psychotherapist (UKCP Registered); a counsellor; arts and play therapist, covering Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. You can contact me here.