If your household is anything like mine, you may wonder how it can already be September! Back-to-school season is officially here. You might notice your child is feeling worried, stressed, or anxious about the new school year, which is natural after spending so much time with their families during the summer break. Luckily, there are various ways parents and caregivers can help their children manage school-related stress and anxiety at the start of the school year. Check out our previous blog here.
At the same time, supporting our children’s emotional health throughout the school year, not just at the beginning, is crucial for their overall well-being and academic success. Research shows that emotional well-being during childhood and adolescence can be a significant predictor of emotional health later in life, indicating that children with strong social and emotional abilities will succeed in life because they will be better able to set and accomplish goals, collaborate with others, and manage their emotions (Choi, 2018).
Below are several strategies parents and caregivers can use to regularly monitor and nurture their child’s emotional well-being. Watching for signs of stress or anxiety and fostering open and supportive conversations with your child can help maintain their emotional health throughout the year.
Establish a Safe and Supportive Environment:
When children grow up in a stable and encouraging home, they can feel safe expressing their feelings and asking for help when needed. Creating schedules and routines incorporating family time, such as dinners, regular movie/game nights, or check-ins before bed, can help establish a sense of security and predictability. Ensuring your child understands they can talk to you about anything without fear of judgment can help maintain open and honest communication throughout the year.
Model Healthy Emotional Habits:
This one might not be easy to hear as parents and caregivers, but children learn emotional coping strategies by observing us. That’s why setting an example of healthy emotional habits helps our children learn how to manage their emotions. Admittedly, this is easier said than done. Still, we can show our children how to deal with stress, disappointment, and other challenges constructively by staying calm during difficult situations. This doesn’t mean we avoid or push away our frustrations or negative emotions, but rather that we acknowledge and pause our feelings before reacting, not letting them take over in the heat of the moment.
Be Attuned To Behavioral Changes:
Behavioural and emotional changes can be subtle, and being attuned to your child’s moods and behaviours can help you catch early signs of stress or anxiety. Watch for signs such as irritability, withdrawal from activities they typically enjoy, changes in sleep patterns, or decline in academic performance. If you notice significant changes, ask your child if anything is bothering them. Try asking specific open-ended questions about their day or feelings, such as, “What was one highlight of your day?” or “Did anything worry or challenge you today with schoolwork or friends?”
Encourage Physical Activity:
Regular physical activity benefits physical health and helps reduce stress and improve mood. We can support our children’s emotional health by ensuring they can engage in physical activities they enjoy, such as sports, dance, or simply playing or running at the park. Incorporating physical activity into the family routine, such as weekend walks, can also be a way to encourage exercise, relieve stress, and connect as a family.
Encourage Positive Social Connections:
Positive relationships with peers and adults are essential for a child’s emotional well-being and can provide a support system outside the family. Encourage playdates and join group activities or clubs that align with their interests. Staying connected with teachers can also help parents learn about their child’s emotional well-being and provide opportunities for conversation if parents have questions or notice significant changes.
Monitor Screen Time:
Excessive or unmonitored screen usage, mainly smartphone and social media use, can negatively impact a child’s mental health (Santos et al., 2023). Parents can monitor their child’s online activity and set limits on screen time, particularly before bed. Additionally, it is crucial to have discussions with our children about internet safety and balancing screen time with other activities. Alternative activities such as journalling, drawing, listening to, or playing music can creatively express emotions and ward off emotional buildup and stress.
Set Realistic Expectations:
Finally, encourage your children to work hard, but avoid placing too much pressure on them to achieve perfection. Unrealistic expectations can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety for children, which can impact their development of self-esteem. Recognize their efforts and progress rather than just their grades and point out that learning naturally involves making mistakes.
When to Seek Professional Help:
While parents can support their child’s emotional health by paying attention, encouraging open communication, and providing a secure and stable environment, there may be times when your child may benefit from additional support. Consider seeking professional help if you notice persistent and significant changes in your child’s mood and behaviour. Given that early intervention can significantly improve a child’s emotional health (Colizzi et al., 2020), working with a therapist, school counsellor, or psychologist can offer your child a safe and non-judgmental space to explore their insecurities and symptoms of stress or anxiety.
*Please note that ‘parents,’ ‘caregivers,’ and ‘guardians’ are used interchangeably in this article and refer to all caregivers, including parents, grandparents, adoptive parents, foster parents and more.
References:
Choi, A. (2018). Emotional Well-Being of Children and Adolescents: Recent Trends and Relevant Factors. OECD Education Working Papers, 169. https://doi.org/10.1787/41576fb2-en
Colizzi, M., Lasalvia, A. & Ruggeri, M. (2020). Prevention and Early Intervention in Youth Mental Health: Is It Time for a Multidisciplinary and Trans-Diagnostic Model for Care? International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 14(23). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00356-9
Santos, R. M. S., Mendes, C. G., Sen Bressani, G., de Alcantara Ventura, S., de Almeida Nogueira, Y. J., de Miranda, D. M., & Romano-Silva, M. A. (2023). The Associations Between Screen Time and Mental Health in Adolescents: A Systematic Review. BMC Psychology, 11(127). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01166-7
Julie Row
Julie specializes in supporting individuals work through the complexities of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and life transitions, while recognizing the impact that societal structures like culture, gender, discrimination etc. can influence how we relate to ourselves and others. In her free time, Julie can be found singing in the car, going for walks with her partner and kids, watching concerts or musicals or daydreaming about her next Disney family vacation!
