Anxious feelings are normal during times of transition or change. This is especially true for children and teens going back to school, or for first-timers starting kindergarten. To help your child deal with back-to-school worries, it’s important to recognize the signs of anxiety and understand common fears.

Signs of Anxiety

• Attitude of indifference about school
• Not enthusiastic about school shopping or talking about school
• Trouble falling asleep
• Sudden physical complaints on the morning of the first school day, such as a stomachache or headache

Common Fears

• Being separated from parents
• Fear that something bad may happen to their parents while they are in school
• Scary teachers and/or janitors
• Mean kids
• Spooky bathrooms

Preparing Your Child for Their First Day

• Separate from and reunite with your child
• Take a car ride to school
• Walk through the campus, including the bathroom, before school starts
• Ask your child's teacher for an autographed picture
• Arrange a brief welcome-to-school phone call from the teacher