Students returning to school this fall may finally find a sense of normality in their classroom routines and reunite with familiar faces. But the back-to-school season may also bring stress for many students as they worry about their academic performance and afterschool programs, area counselors say. Parents can help kids cope with it through effective communications.
Academic performance is one of the regular stresses students may feel when they return to school, said Christina Shumpert-Chapman, behavioral specialist at Columbus Municipal School District. Many students may be concerned with their grades or the credits they will need to graduate, she said. Some are met with challenges such as food, clothing shortage and homelessness.
“Going back into that type of routine can be stressful,” she said. “Making the grades, passing the tests, peer pressure, sometimes anxiety, the need to fit in with peers … that can also be stressful.”
On top of academic stress, students may have a hard time juggling between schoolwork and afterschool programs, such as tutoring and athletic practices.
So how can parents help their kids cope with the stress they feel?
Look for early signs of distress. If your kids demonstrate low energy, feel sad or withdrawn, or have problems controlling their behaviors, those are warning signs that warrant parent attention, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Create a safe and comfortable environment for kids to express their feelings when they feel overwhelmed. Set aside time to listen to them, be honest and focus on what they are truly worried about, Shumpert-Chapman said.
“One of the things with parents, caregivers and other adults involved in these children’s lives is to listen,” she said. “Family meals are a great opportunity to allow students to express how they are feeling.”
Give positive affirmation to the kids and encourage them to accomplish their tasks, but also know their limits, Shumpert-Chapman said.
“(Tell them) they can do this […]. If they are struggling with Math, talk to that Math teacher about getting some extra help,” she said.
To help alleviate the stress that may come from both schoolwork and afterschool programs, she said, parents can create a routine for kids, make sure they get enough sleep and encourage them to take deep breaths and meditate. Seeking peer support or even professional help from counselors would also help. Extracurricular activities may help distract students from their academic performance as well. Further their interest in their hobbies and therefore reduce the stress they feel.
On top of the regular anxiety students experience with their school work, the pandemic, which has brought about changes in school operations as well as students’ personal lives, may also add to the uncertainty students feel, said Katie Young, an elementary school counselor at Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District (SOCSD). For young students, Young said, switching to another school building or campus could be overwhelming and would take time to adjust to.
“I would encourage parents to talk about how school is going to look different,” said SOCSD Assistant Superintendent Anna Guntharp. “If parents can start role-modeling by […] wearing a mask and talking about handwashing, social distancing and what that looks like, […] all of that will help us start the school year for kids to be comfortable and reassured.”
SOCSD will share a reopening plan at the end of July and set up virtual tours in advance for students who switch to a different school building in the fall to prepare them for the coming school year, said SOCSD spokeswoman Nicole Thomas.
“Talking about those things, letting your kids experience that before they get to the school building is good,” Young said.
Counselors also point to various school district programs, such as group sessions and counseling resources, for parents in need of professional help for their kids. Directing their kids to these resources, counselors say, can also prove helpful.
Yue Stella Yu was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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