Once again, summer flew by and it's time for school again for most. Back to school time can be met with mixed emotions for young people. It may be a positive change for some as a chance to see many of their friends again, be involved in some of their favorite activities, and get into the routine.
Yet, there are a lot of young people who dread the thought of walking through those doors again in the fall for various reasons. For many kids and teens, they may even get physically sick from the anxiety it brings.
Some of the things that may be viewed negatively may be as simple as getting out of bed earlier and having homework to more serious issues like bullying, peer pressure, social anxiety (or not feeling accepted), not having enough money to keep up with the latest trends or having major difficulty keeping up academically. Some young people my express their anxiety and fears regarding these issues, but some may keep it to themselves.
So while its important to fill all the supply lists and get them the pencils and notebooks they need, the most important back to school tools parents can give their teens is a little extra time and effort helping them gain the tools that could make their school year much more successful.
Following are some suggestions for helping the year be a little less intimidating and a possibly a bit more successful:
* Assurance- assuring your child that their family loves them no matter what
* Encouragement - building self esteem with affirming words and actions
* Training - helping your child re-adjust to a routine before the first day of school
* Balance-helping the child maintain a balance between work and "play"
* Character building - helping the child to develop new habits and positive responses to
challenges with people and situations
Enjoy the last few days of summer as you all gear up for another school year!
