• START HERE!
    • ABOUT CARLY
    • CONTACT
  • FASHION
  • BODY POSITIVITY
  • GIRL POWER
  • SD LIFE
  • DISNEY
  • SHOP MY INSTAGRAM
  • SHOP MY FAVES

Lipgloss and Crayons

Parenting

School Anxiety: How to Help

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. This post may also contain items gifted for consideration.

Today is World Mental Health Day, and it seemed like a fitting time to talk about school anxiety.  As a veteran teacher, and a behavior support specialist…..I have a TON of experience professionally with school anxiety and I wanted to share what I've implemented as a parent of a now school aged child.

Is your child struggling with school anxiety? These tips from a teacher and behavior support specialist are SUPER helpful!

School anxiety.  What does that look like and what is it? Morning struggles.  Temper tantrums.  Refusing to go in to the classroom.  A lot of kids experience school anxiety at some point to an extent.  It can last a day, a week, a month or longer depending on your child and depending on how they are supported. I wanted to share my top suggestions for helping your child if this is a struggle for them.

How to Help Children with School Anxiety

  1. Communicate with School Personnel: Don't battle this alone.  Talk to your child's teacher.  Talk to the principal.  Talk to the school psychologist.  Ask to have a meeting (an informal meeting is fine, this isn't necessarily something that warrants an IEP Meeting or  504 Meeting).  The school staff will help you formulate a plan that they can support.  We had meetings like this ALL the time.  Usually we formulated a short term plan…..and then would slowly let it fade as the child felt more comfortable.
  2. Prepare the Night Before:  You know what can cause anxiety to kick into high gear? Chaos and rushing (which I can 100% say is true as someone who struggles with anxiety myself).  The more you can prepare the evening before, the better.  Clothing selected.  Backpack packed and by the door.  Socks and shoes ready.  Homework done.  A calm, slow morning will leave time for emotional support.
  3. Morning Mantra: I know, I know.  It's a little woo woo, but if you guys watch our Instagram Stories……then you know I believe in mantras for kids.  There's something in the power of repetition.  Repeating that you can do it, that you are safe, and you are ready does something to you psychologically.  Eventually you believe it.
  4. Get a Watch: A lot of school anxiety comes from children feeling out of control.  About their schedule.  About being picked up.  Help your child to understand the routine of the day, and when the day will be over.  Even little kids can understand routine.  Let them know that you pick them up an hour after lunch.  Older ones? You can easily ask for a school schedule so that they can use a watch and keep track.
  5. Baby Steps: Focus on positive changes.  Did you child get in the car by themselves? Exit the car on their own? That's progress if it was a struggle.  Walk into the classroom with a friend? You only had to stay for 10 minutes instead of 20? That's progress too.  Loop your child in.  Let them know that each day, they'll have a new goal.  And that each day they'll feel more comfortable.
  6. Seek Professional Help:  If you feel that your child is NOT adjusting, or if you as a parent feel ill equipped to handle school anxiety…..seek professional help.  You can always ask the school staff for a recommendation.  Often, schools can suggest therapists or behavior support specialists who are specifically suited to help with school anxiety.

I promise, in 15 years of teaching, I never saw a case of school anxiety that wasn't resolved within a month or two.  School anxiety (as with all types of anxiety) is valid, and totally understandable.  And it's also resolvable and easily supported with a great team around you.

0 Leave a Comment

Subscribe to L&C Weekly!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous The Best Fall Jackets for a Pear Shape
Next Maleficent Review: Is It Kid Friendly?

Related Posts

How To Potty Train A Toddler Without Losing Your Cool...

What This Teacher Wants You To Know About School Shooti...

I’m an Old Mom, and I Wouldn’t Have it Any...

Back to School Tips

Primary Sidebar

Search

NEW? START HERE

DISCLAIMER

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Five years ago. This exact place. Robbie had jus Five years ago.  This exact place.  Robbie had just finished two years of grad school.  And it had been a long, tough two years.  That year involved one major teacher strike in my district, many many many jobs and gigs for both of us, minimal time off together, a whole lot of unknowns and a whole lot of stress.The Disney and Aulani team probably had no idea that they were giving us the gift of much needed peaceful time together when they invited us on a trip to this magical place.  A trip that….to be honest, was beyond our means at the time.  We cherished every moment. A lot has happened since then.  A move, buying a house, seeing those years of hard work pay off.  And now….we did it.  We’re back.  Lazy river here we come. TLDR? If you’re in the thick of it, I see you.  We’ve been there. Family, Welcome Home……we did it.  Aulani for the week.
Now, if I’m being totally honest…..this pulled Now, if I’m being totally honest…..this pulled muscle? I should have known better.  When training for my race, I didn’t stretch or warm up enough most days and….here we are.Lesson learned.  I’m 4 weeks post race (do not recommend running a 10k on a pulled muscle) and I’m……almost better.  I’m learning to stretch and walk and to take better care of myself so that I can start running again REALLY soon (we’re almost there I think).For now? I’m doing recovery walks and trying to strengthen my leg.  And trying to make sure I get enough protein.  When I talked about Built Bars on my stories, a LOTTTTT of you raced about their Puffs.  Yup, I get it.  They’re AMAZING.  I’ve been bringing them along on my walks (and gluten free friends….they have some great options for us).Have you ever pulled a muscle? What was recovery like for you?#youGOTTAtrythis #BUILTProtein #BUILT #BUILTbar partner
💕Double Tap when you see who we found at the zo 💕Double Tap when you see who we found at the zoo (and swipe to the end for a close up)⠀⠀🌴Coming to San Diego for Spring Break or a Summer Vacation?⠀⠀📍Let’s talk San Diego Zoo (and yes, I got off a plane yesterday, picked up Lydia and we spent the afternoon at the zoo…..it was LOVELY).⠀⠀A few things to help you plan visits to San Diego and the Zoo:⠀1️⃣ the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are NOT close together.  The Zoo is close to downtown, the Safari Park is about 25 miles north.  I’d suggest one day at each.  They’re totally unique and both worth a visit.  The Safari Park is smaller, but has REALLY unique exhibits (Walkabout Australia is my favorite).⠀2️⃣ both have some really fun and unique dining experiences that you can reserve in advance: Albert’s at the Zoo is a FANCY and fun sit down option, and The Watering Hole at Kijamii Overlook at the Safari Park is great for happy hour or a fun lunch ⠀3️⃣ there are great kids play areas at both locations, the Wildlife Explorers Base Camp area at the San Diego Zoo is brand new and absolutely amazing⠀⠀✨ Now, a bonus tip.  Undercover Tourist now has NATIONWIDE savings on over 500 attractions in 50 cities and up to 25% on tickets for theme parks, zoo, museums, aquariums, city tours, water parks, and movie tickets. And the deals they have for San Diego?  AMAZING (I’m sharing details in my stories).⠀⠀@themeparkfrog #UncoverSavingsNationwide #ad
In high school, I wasn’t supposed to cross the b In high school, I wasn’t supposed to cross the bridge without permission.⠀⠀I grew up about 20 minutes from San Francisco, on the OTHER side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Yes, you know that opening scene in Full House where they’re driving across the bridge? I was on the other side of that.  And one of MOST parents’ rules where I grew up? No going into the city without permission.  Sorry mom and dad, it’s been long enough…..now I can disclose that we broke that rule constantly.⠀⠀San Francisco is my favorite city.  It’s intimate and moody and filled with history and some of the best food in the world.  It reminds me of childhood trips to the zoo and Golden Gate Park, it reminds me of my first apartment after college and my first serious relationship.  It reminds me of 22 year old carefree nights with friends and milkshakes at Mels in high school and coffee in North Beach and nights in the Marin Headlands (the closest we were supposed to get to the bridge).⠀⠀So when I had the opportunity to spend 20 hours in my city by the Bay? I took it.⠀⠀Photo Diary:⠀1) nothing like a hotel room to yourself ⠀2) basically drove through a monsoon in San Diego yesterday to make it to the airport⠀3) through the fog? You can see the Golden Gate Bridge⠀4) SFO ⠀5) drove right through North Beach where my mom lived until she was 2, and texted her this photo of a church where she remembers going to weddings as a child⠀6) dinner with Dove, talking about the importance of diversity and representation in gaming avatars ⠀7 and 8) anyone else got a roblox fan in their house? Dove is changing the game (pun intended) and we love to see it.⠀⠀Have you been to San Francisco?
Are you a road trip or a fly in the sky vacationer Are you a road trip or a fly in the sky vacationer? What’s your ideal?⠀Figured this was a good day to ask since….I’m boarding a plane this morning for a VERY quick trip.⠀❤️Over on stories, we are playing this or that. We’re making this a regular little weekly coffee chat.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀☕️So, five of you will get a coffee on me.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Want to join in?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀1) like this post⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀2) answer the polls in stories⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀3) tag a friend in comments, or tell me what your ideal vacation looks like, and how you’d get there!
  • Collaborate
  • Speaking
  • Contact Carly
  • PRESS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fashion
  • Body Positivity
  • Girl Power
  • SD Life
  • Disney
  • Travel
  • Highlights

© 2019 LIPGLOSS AND CRAYONS  |  SITE DESIGN: MLL DESIGN STUDIO  & FUZE BRANDING