Shabby Chic Boho School anxiety is more common than most parents realise, and whether your child’s attending a public or a private school, these nervous butterflies can creep in and turn mornings into a stressful marathon. It doesn’t take much more than some patience and reassurance, and you can help your child to kick school anxiety to the curb. Acknowledging their feelings and making sure that they’re not worrying that their anxiety makes them weird. It’s the first step. You can tell them that it’s OK to feel nervous. Hearing that from you can be incredibly comforting because you’re not brushing off their fears. Tell them that you hear them and that you’ll figure it out together, because a small shift like that turns anxiety from a monster in the closet into something more manageable.
You can then talk to them about what specifically makes school feel scary. Is it meeting new people or speaking in front of others? The fear of not understanding the work is also something that creeps up. Sometimes the things kids worry about are much smaller or much bigger than we expect them to be. Once you know the details, you can start solving the puzzle piece by piece.
Creating some predictable routines is another powerful tool that you can use to help with anxiety. Kids feel safer when they know what’s coming, so you can set up consistent morning habits with breakfast, brushing teeth, getting dressed, grabbing backpacks, and more. You can even add a silly preschool cheer or a joke of the day to lighten the mood. When they know what to expect, kids feel more in control, which naturally reduces anxiety for them. When possible, get the school involved in the solution. A private school, if they are attending one, will often have counselors that deal with school anxiety all the time. Even public schools have teachers and counselors available for support and check-ins. They might even be quiet spaces where your child can regroup.
Practising coping strategies together like deep breathing can really work wonders, especially when it’s playful. Dragon breaths and balloon breathing can help, and you can also create a small comfort kit for your child’s backpack. It’s these little reminders that help kids to feel connected and calm. Building their confidence through small wins like tiny accomplishments and introducing themselves to a new friend can help to keep their anxiety shrinking. Normalize their mistakes along the way, too. Kids often have fear in school because they think getting something wrong is catastrophic. Laughing about your own childhood disasters can take the pressure off them and make them feel more secure.
And don’t forget to sprinkle in some fun. Remind your child that anxiety doesn’t define who they are, it’s just a feeling, one that comes and goes. With the right support and love, you can make sure that they face school with courage instead of fear. The right strategies can make your child trade out that morning stressed for confidence and a smile.
