NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Returning to school following summer break can be exciting and nerve-wracking for kids.
“There is a lot of uncertainty, some unknowns like new schools and new teachers,” said registered play therapist Dana Hillman-Sabato, who specializes in early relational health.
Several situations may make a child worry. Unique in their own ways, Hillman-Sabato, who is also a mom of three, reminds us that every child is different.
Connecticut State Board of Education approves guidance for districts to limit use of cellphones in schools “Some things that I might wonder about with my child: what have their experiences been before with school? Are they positive? Are they negative?”
She said if your child has had tough times at school, processing that first and talking about it before a new year is key.
“We don’t want to live in that space,” Hillman-Sabato said. “We know that’s really easy to unpack and live there for a while. It may be hard for children to move on, so we need to allow those feelings and talk about it.”
At the end of the day, trust your gut.
“You know your child best, and we really want to lean into what we know about our child, and when that instinct kicks in to say something’s not right, this isn’t typically how my child is behaving.”
Hillman-Sabato said some kids may be straightforward, vocalizing they don’t want to attend school. You may see drastic mood changes or even the need for extra affection.
“There are so many things we can do for our little ones to prepare for school.”
Consider rituals and routines.
“We might want to wave goodbye a certain way, have a fun handshake to say goodbye,” Hillman-Sabato said. “There are mantras we can do with our kiddos, saying, ‘We can do hard things.’These are really wonderful teachable moments for our little ones.”
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“As a caregiver or parent, really, in order for your child to feel regulated, they’re going to be looking to you,” Hillman-Sabato said.
So, parents, don’t forget to also care for yourselves.
“One thing I found really helpful as a parent is to often be reminded that stress is OK. Small amounts of stress, there’s actually such a thing as positive stress. It’s what helps little minds grow.”
Hillman-Sabato said that back-to-school time is a good opportunity for kids to learn that stress may rise, but it will eventually subside, especially with the help of a strong support system.
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