It’s almost back-to-school time – which means kids are getting nervous about the new school year. They're worrying about things like who’ll be their friend, what class they’ll be in, and if they’ll be teased for their new braces, haircut, or because they grew six inches over the summer. So, here’s how to help your kids survive the back-to-school nerves, courtesy of Family Circle magazine:
- Worry #1: The new kid. If your kid’s worried about going to a new school, don’t say, “You’ll feel better once school starts.” That just invalidates their feelings. Instead, say something like “I understand why you’re nervous. So, let’s take it one step at a time. Why don’t you make it a point to introduce yourself to one new person a day and sign up for one new activity a week?” When kids have a game plan, they’re much less likely to be nervous about the unknown.
- Worry #2: Wrong class, wrong teacher. Kids look forward to getting the teacher they want, and sharing classes with friends. It’s a huge deal if they don’t get what they want. The fix: Don’t rush to make changes. Look at this as an opportunity for your child to expand their social network. However, after several weeks, if they’re still desperately missing their friends, or having teacher issues, schedule a meeting with yourself, your child and the teacher to discuss the problem.
- Worry #3: Tech trouble. A lot of kids will show up with high-tech cell phones and laptops with Internet access, which can be big distractions, as well as tools for cheating and cyber-bullying. So, before school starts, tell your kid: “We both know it’s easy to use cell phones and laptops to create drama, spread gossip and humiliate people. So, I reserve the right to check your text messages, email account and Facebook page. If I see you giving out personal information, pretending to be something you’re not, or sharing embarrassing information, I’ll take your tech away until you can earn back my trust. If other kids are using the Internet to embarrass you, come to me and we’ll work out the problem together.”
