Let’s face it – the start of a new school year can be stressful for both parents and students alike. We tend to forget that kids can deal with a lot, ranging from starting a new grade, increased workload, higher expectations and the anxiety of navigating new (or existing) social circles.

Parents are also not immune to dealing with the stress of back to school, as many of them will be returning to hectic routines, keeping track of schedules, and staying on top of busy days. 

So, to help, the Goods Hands Advice team has put together back-to-school tips to help as your kids start the new school year.

Here is what are we will be exploring:

What Are the Main Causes of Stress in School?

How to Tell if a Child is Stressed

Tips to Help Reduce School Season Stress

What Are the Main Causes of Stress in School?

For many parents who deal with the stress that comes with adulthood – for example, paying bills, car maintenance, home maintenance, and their own day jobs – it can be easy to forget that children can deal with their own stress and anxiety as well.

Oxford Learning identified common causes of school stress for children. Some may feel overwhelmed due to:

• Too Much Homework
• Upcoming Tests
• Lack of Organization
• Poor Sleep Schedule
• Changes to Routine
• Lack of Support

While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does provide a bit of insights to some common causes of stress for children. By identifying what these stressors are, parents can work with their children and teachers to develop an action plan to help relieve stress.

How to Tell if Your Child is Stressed

Some children may be able to tell you they’re stressed, but many may not have the words to vocalize how they are feeling and may demonstrate it another way. According to the Alberta government, the types of stress can manifest itself in three different ways:

Physical Signs

Physical symptoms of stress in school-age children may include:

• Complaining of headaches or upset stomach
• Having changes in appetite
• Having trouble sleeping or changes in sleep habits
• Needing to use the toilet often
• Wetting the bed

Emotional Signs

Emotional signs of stress may include:

• Being distrustful
• Feeling unloved
• Not caring about school or friendships
• Worrying about the future

Behavioural Signs

Behavioural signs of stress may include:

• Acting withdrawn
• Not wanting to go to school
• Changes at school, such as with behaviour, grades, or friendships
• Risky behaviours (usually in older children), such as smoking or using alcohol

Tips to Help Reduce School Season Stress

Now that we’ve identified some of the ways children can demonstrate stress, here are some tips to help.

1. Get organized in the evenings. Mornings are often hectic because you try to do so many things in a small amount of time. To reduce the effects of stress, get organized and complete tasks in the evenings. For example, pick out work and school clothes, and have kids pack their backpack and lunches the night before. For morning activities, create a schedule to order tasks that should be done, like getting dressed, making the bed, eating breakfast, combing hair, brushing teeth, and grabbing school items before heading out the door. Also, encourage your family members to use agendas (or a shared online calendar) to jot down activities, assignments, tests, and appointments for the week or month.
2. Create a homework space. Give your kids a quiet, well-lit and comfortable workspace to do homework, preferably with a desk of their own. Make sure you have some extra supplies at home, so they don’t have to tote their supplies back and forth. Discourage the use of electronic devices, music and TVs while doing homework — you want kids to stay focused! Encourage them to take breaks to avoid fatigue.
3. Set your kids up for success:
   • Set high expectations for your child, but not unrealistic ones that put too much pressure on them that could lead to stress.
   • Regularly talk to your child about school and their progress, successes and areas for improvement. A report card shouldn’t contain any surprises!
   • Help your child develop good work habits and a positive attitude about learning.
   • Monitor your child’s work but don’t hover and unreasonably interfere with their independence.
   • Advise your child to ask questions in class. Also, broaden their learning with real-life situations like watching the news and discussing world events.
   • Encourage your children to read for pleasure every day. Regular reading is one of the keys to a child’s success in school as it builds their comprehension in all subjects.
   • If your child is struggling with a particular subject, speak with their teacher(s) to implement a plan to help. Decide if your child can benefit from extra assistance with the teacher or a tutor.
4. Create a central zone. Create a spot or use a container where all go-to morning items can easily be found like keys, lunch boxes, permission slips, backpacks, etc.
5. Prepare meals in advance. Use a weekend or evening to prepare meals and freeze them so they just have to be placed in the oven when you get home. Cut up healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables to store in zipper bags or containers.
6. Wake up earlier. To make mornings easier for parents, try waking up a bit earlier — say about a half hour – to get ready for the day and enjoy a few minutes relaxing. Also, plan to arrive at work or drop the kids off at least 15 minutes early, so you have a cushion in case anything derails your routine.
7. Schedule physical activities and fun! Children also need time for fun. And they need time to participate in extracurricular activities, downtime to reflect, and time for family. But, refrain from over-scheduling which can cause burnout.
8. Be engaged and provide encouragement.
   • Keep the lines of communication open and ask your child questions about their day, who they socialized with, what went really well, if anything worrisome happened, and if any tests are coming up. This will show your child that you’re there for support.
   • Remember, your child is not you. They may approach stressful situations differently, and they must learn how best to manage tasks on their own. Try not to put all your focus on their grades. Instead, encourage your child to do their best, take responsibility, and understand the concepts taught in class. Showing you have confidence in them will help them believe in themselves.
9. Wind down before bed. Everyone needs a well-deserved wind-down routine before bed. It takes about a full hour to go from 100 per cent awake to asleep, so plan for a full hour of calm with no screens or other major activities.

I hope these ideas help you and your family stay stress-free throughout the school year – with organized routines, positive learning experiences, a supportive environment (both at school and at home), and great results!

Disclaimer: This information and the websites referenced are provided for your convenience only and should not be construed as providing legal or insurance advice. Allstate does not control or guarantee the accuracy of any content on any third-party site.  Allstate is not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party site.