KurtzP_logo_kp1_700
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WHAT & HOW WE TREAT
    • Telehealth Therapy Sessions
  • SELECTIVE MUTISM
    • What is Selective Mutism?
    • Mighty Mouth Kids Camp
    • Selective Mutism & Social Anxiety Groups
    • SM Learning University
    • Research on PCIT-SM
    • PCIT-SM Certified Therapists
    • Selective Mutism Resources
  • BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
    • What is Parent Training?
    • What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
    • Baby Steps: Weekly Virtual Group for Caregivers of Children Ages 0-3
    • Coping Kids Virtual Program
    • Capstone Summer Program
    • Training for Mental Health & Education Professionals
      • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
      • Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) for Educators & Schools
  • OCD & RELATED DISORDERS
  • BLOG
  • RESOURCES
    • Lunch n Learn Webinars
    • Selective Mutism Resources
    • Evidence-based treatments – “EBTs”
    • Videos
    • PCIT Tracker Programs
  • TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT
    • Lunch n Learn Webinars
    • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
    • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM) Training for Professionals
    • Within Agency Training for PCIT Therapists to Become Trainers
    • Training & Consulting for Professionals
    • Pre-Professional Training
    • Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) for Educators & Schools
    • Employment
  • CONTACT
Join Us On Social Media
KurtzP_logo_kp1_700
KurtzP_logo_kp1_700
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WHAT & HOW WE TREAT
    • Telehealth Therapy Sessions
  • SELECTIVE MUTISM
    • What is Selective Mutism?
    • Mighty Mouth Kids Camp
    • Selective Mutism & Social Anxiety Groups
    • SM Learning University
    • Research on PCIT-SM
    • PCIT-SM Certified Therapists
    • Selective Mutism Resources
  • BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
    • What is Parent Training?
    • What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
    • Baby Steps: Weekly Virtual Group for Caregivers of Children Ages 0-3
    • Coping Kids Virtual Program
    • Capstone Summer Program
    • Training for Mental Health & Education Professionals
      • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
      • Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) for Educators & Schools
  • OCD & RELATED DISORDERS
  • BLOG
  • RESOURCES
    • Lunch n Learn Webinars
    • Selective Mutism Resources
    • Evidence-based treatments – “EBTs”
    • Videos
    • PCIT Tracker Programs
  • TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT
    • Lunch n Learn Webinars
    • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
    • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM) Training for Professionals
    • Within Agency Training for PCIT Therapists to Become Trainers
    • Training & Consulting for Professionals
    • Pre-Professional Training
    • Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) for Educators & Schools
    • Employment
  • CONTACT

Helping Your Child Cope with Anxiety in the New School Year

September 16, 2019
-
Posted by Carly Mayer, PsyD

The beginning of the school year brings a fresh start and lots of excitement for many kids and parents. It also brings many anxieties to the forefront. Some kids will share and be clear about their nerves, telling parents that they are nervous or worried. Others may pose many questions about the school year, seeking constant reassurance. While others may present with physical complaints, complaining of stomachaches or headaches. Whether your child has experienced these anxieties before or not, here are a few things to help them through these moments:

1.     Validate their feelings – Acknowledging a child’s anxieties can be comforting for them and can also be the first step to developing a plan to address them. Even if you cannot relate, your child’s feelings are always very real to them.

2.     Normalize their anxieties – Many children are nervous about the beginning of the school year! Kids like to know what to expect and that includes knowing their routines. The beginning of the school year changes that routine, even if they love school. This can be an overwhelming time since it is impossible to know all aspects of the school day, peers, and teachers beforehand.

3.     Remind them of other successes – Connect this experience with other anxious moments (particularly around beginning school) and how your child survived them. Often, we think things will be worse than they end up being and we need to be reminded of another similar time. Sometimes, experiences are awful. If they were able to get through those awful moments before, they probably can again.

4.     Problem Solve – Talk with your child about what they can do to manage their anxieties in different situations that they are worried about. While every parent wants to reassure their child that bad things won’t happen, we know that they actually can. Working with your kids to identify strategies to handle their “worst case scenario” helps them feel prepared for these moments.

a.     Deep Breathing – Practice deep belly breathing to facilitate calmness. In through their nose and out through their mouth, like smelling flowers and blowing out birthday candles. Bubbles can also be a great way to teach deep breathing since they will get many more bubbles out when they use a deep, calm breath.

b.     Progressive Muscle Relaxation – Teach children how to tense and relax their muscles to aide in relaxation during anxious moments.

https://depts.washington.edu/hcsats/PDF/TF-%20CBT/pages/4%20Emotion%20Regulation%20Skills/Client%20Handouts/Relaxation/Relaxation%20Script%20for%20Younger%20Children.pdf

c.      Erase the “Mights” and be a Detective – Help your child look for the facts and decide if what they are thinking is actually true. Develop a list of clues for and against their negative thought.

d.     Develop a coping statement – Having a “go to” positive statement can be helpful in anxious situations. Every child will have something different that resonates with them, but most kids can relate to at least one of the below.
“I can do it, even if it’s hard/scary”
“I am nervous, but this feeling will pass”
“This isn’t the best situation, but it’s not the worst either”
“I’ve done this before, I can do it again”

5.     Keep your own anxieties in check – A new school year can be anxiety-provoking for parents as much as kids, especially if your child has had difficulty in the past. Children can pick up on the anxiety of their parents, so fake it ‘til you make it! They don’t need to know that you’re feeling nervous too and if you are struggling to hide it, the strategies they can use are helpful for parents too!

Email
Mayer_Carly headshot

Carly Mayer, PsyD

Carly Mayer, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of disruptive behavior disorders, anxiety, and selective mutism. Dr. Mayer is a New York State Certified School Psychologist and directs our Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) program, guiding teachers in positive .... Read full bio

Related

Other posts that you should not miss.

Standing up to Bullying

October 21, 2020
Bullying is frustrating and hurtful for children and their families. In honor of Bully Awareness Month, we review the psychological effects of bullying, how to stop bullying, and strategies for…
Read More →
Posted by Brooke Edelman
3 MIN READ

Child Versus Family Therapy: How to Make the Choice that Best Suits You & Your Family

October 14, 2020
The decision to seek therapy can be an intimidating one. Psychology Today, for example, lists over 60 types of therapies for toddlers through elders! A parent in need…
Read More →
Screenshot 2018-12-21 08.58.11
Posted by Caroline Harvey, PsyD
7 MIN READ

Self-Care: How Finding Time for Yourself Can Help your Child

February 17, 2021
Being a parent often means that your world is completely run by playdates and pizza parties. Throw in homework and bath time and by the time the kids go to…
Read More →
Mayer_Carly headshot
Posted by Carly Mayer, PsyD
2 MIN READ
Kurtz Psychology
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What do we treat?
  • What is Selective Mutism?
  • What is Parent Training?
  • Videos
  • Employment
  • Contact Us
Explore Next Steps
  • Mighty Mouth Kids Camp
  • Lunch n Learn Webinars
  • Selective Mutism Resources
  • Pre-Professional Training
  • What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
  • What is Selective Mutism?
  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
Recent Blog Posts
  • February 24, 2021
    Teen Dating Violence
  • February 17, 2021
    Self-Care: How Finding Time for Yourself Can Help your Child
  • February 3, 2021
    Frequently Asked Questions about our Virtual Mighty Mouth Kids Camp
©2019 Kurtz Psychology, All Rights Reserved
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Helping Your Child Cope with Anxiety in the New School Year | Kurtz Psychology