When are back-to-school worries more than they appear: Experts explain

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — It’s back-to-school time in East Tennessee. As always, a return to the classroom brings a level of excitement for some, but not everyone is always on board.

“I think any time there is a change in routine it takes a minute to adjust,” said Norwood Elementary (Oliver Springs) school counselor Elizabeth Evans.

It’s called the back-to-school blues.

“They are just like adults,” said Dr. Robert Wilson with the Covenant Medical Group. “You put them in a new situation and there is anxiety. We worry about making new friends or fitting in. We worry about academic expectations. Is it going to be harder this year? Will the classes be more difficult?”

Normal concerns for any student heading into a new school year. But, when are the blues more than what they appear? School and medical experts say there are signs parents should watch for.

“If it’s going on for weeks and weeks, and you’re talking about it, and you’ve tried things to make them feel better and it’s not getting better. That might be time to reach out,” said Evans.

“If your child is saying they are sick every day for a week and they don’t have a fever, not vomiting, or diarrhea. Not having the obvious symptoms. Then you should be concerned that something is going on at school,” added Dr. Suzanne Rybczynski with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

What can parents do to help their children? The website, Pinerest.org , suggests advocating for your child to be involved in extracurricular clubs, sports and/or groups, remembering the importance of a quiet, stress-free homework space, allowing your child some downtime to unwind at the end of the day and, throughout the school year, keeping lines of communication open.

“If it turns into a pattern, you want to reach out to the teacher, the counselor and see what they are seeing in school,” said Rybczynski. “They may see things your child may not want to share with you.”

“So many times we see things here because we have so many kids that you might not see at home and vice versa,” said Evans. “Early intervention is key. Sometimes in early elementary, we are addressing mental health concerns. It scares families.”

Scary, yes. However, if left untreated, studies have shown that persistent school refusal can lead to academic underachievement, school dropout, social isolation and even poorer mental health.

“You really need to make sure that your child understands that you believe them. You know they have a headache and are not feeling well and you want to understand what’s going on,” said Rybczynski.

“If one smile, one encouraging word, one 15-minute morning meeting can change the trajectory of a child’s day,” said Evans. “It can ultimately end up changing the trajectory of a child’s life.”

If you are concerned your child’s blues may be something more serious. Reach out to your child’s teachers, school counselors or pediatrician.

Additional resources:

• https://www.littleotterhealth.com/blog/when-to-worry-school-refusal
• https://www.pinerest.org/newsroom/articles/13-tips-for-battling-the-back-to-school-blues-blog/
• https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/how-beat-back-school-blues/

It should also be noted that while showing compassion to your child, parents need to remind them of the importance of going to school.

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