How are you feeling with back-to-school season approaching?
Excited? Stressed? Nervous?
BC Childrensa国际传媒檚 Hospital child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Ashley Miller has a few ideas for you.
sa国际传媒淧arents should really follow their childsa国际传媒檚 lead,sa国际传媒� said Dr. Miller, and recognize the signs of stress or anxiety in their kids.
sa国际传媒淔or younger kids, itsa国际传媒檚 clinginess or crying or more tantrums, being more irritable and refusing to go.sa国际传媒�
Other kids will try and get out of class by complaining of stomachaches or headaches.
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There are a lot of reasons why kids might worry about going back to school.
sa国际传媒淔or younger kids, itsa国际传媒檚 missing their parents, not knowing anyone, or wondering if theysa国际传媒檒l like their teacher,sa国际传媒� Dr. Miller said. sa国际传媒淔or teens, a lot of it is fitting in socially and their achievement in class.sa国际传媒�
Although worrying about school is natural to a degree, Dr. Miller said parents should make sure theysa国际传媒檙e checking in with their kids on a regular basis.
sa国际传媒淔or kids who are more anxious about going back to school, itsa国际传媒檚 important for parents to understand and be empathetic to it. It might seem like a small thing to us, but itsa国际传媒檚 a big deal to them.sa国际传媒�
How parents react is key, she added. If kids are met with judgment, theysa国际传媒檙e not likely to open up to their parents again.
At the same time, Miller noted itsa国际传媒檚 important not to blow little day-to-day struggles out of proportion and to remind kids that they can handle it.
sa国际传媒淎 good way is to say, sa国际传媒業 remember about how last year, when this happened, you were able to do this thing and you were able to deal with it,sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒� she said.
sa国际传媒淚f a repeated pattern of intimidation starts happening, then parents do need to get involved. Itsa国际传媒檚 not enough to just say, sa国际传媒極h, stand up for yourself.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�
For kids who are naturally just a little more anxious, Dr. Miller recommends two apps: , to help teens be more mindful, and , for younger kids.
She said itsa国际传媒檚 important for parents to breathe as well.
sa国际传媒淓verybody gets stressed from time to time, but itsa国际传媒檚 good to look at household stress as a whole,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淢aking sure no one is over-scheduled and doing things like going for walks to relax.sa国际传媒�
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