As the end of Summer quickly approaches, both kids and parents are anticipating the next transition of back-to-school. This can be a stressful time for both kids and their families.
If your child is anxious leading up to the start of school, these tips can help.
Last week, we wrote about the stress and anxiety kids and teens might be feeling as they return back to school and other activities full-time. We outlined several signs to watch for that might signal stress.
This week, we review three ways that parents can help kids cope with the stress that can come from this transition.
Sometimes I am so busy being a parent, I forget I’m a child psychologist. This has been especially true lately in this current pandemic. Stress at home runs high and I routinely witness the impact of that stress unfold right before my eyes with my own two children. Just this week, my 4-year-old was on his 5th consecutive day of throwing a tantrum for an unidentified reason. At night, I would review the day trying to understand the triggers so we could circumvent a repeated emotional explosion the next day. I asked him over and over to put into words what was bothering him and I was met with an escalation of emotion each time. I would “guess” his frustration, thinking it had something to do with the changes in our lives since CoVid-19, but each attempt was off the mark.