Back to School & Art Therapy
Summer is coming to an end and it’s back to school time for parents and children. If this is a tough time of year for your family, try incorporating art therapy to ease the transitional period.
Children can struggle getting back into a routine when the school schedule comes back around. After summer, kids become used to a more relaxed day-to-day experience. Having a sudden change in environment can also cause stress.
It’s normal for children to experience butterflies when they’re about to re-enter the classroom, even for the most social of butterflies. You might notice your child start to become clingier and more nervous when the summer starts winding down. When extra challenges are present such as starting at a new school, entering middle school, or if some of their friends and support system have moved away, those feelings of nervousness could be amplified.
When to Intervene
If feelings of anxiety persist and your child is not getting any more comfortable with going to school, here’s a couple tips on how to move forward.
1. Listen
If your child is expressing anxiety about going back to school, doing homework, or even starting a new extracurricular activity, make sure you give them your full attention and listen to their concerns. You don’t want your child to feel like you’re dismissing them, so be sure to acknowledge them and help them feel more secure. Help them by strategizing how to handle the things their concerned about.
2. Test it out
If you can tell your child is feeling nervous about going to school again, do some test runs. Bring them to the new school or classroom before school starts. Walk the halls with them, help them locate their classrooms and the cafeteria. Bring your child with you if you have to drop off a form or during any other administrative work. If their teacher is present, introduce them.
You can even use this time to let someone at the school know that your child might be struggling with back to school anxiety. Tell their teacher or the school nurse.
3. When to seek help
If your child starts developing headaches or stomachaches in the morning before school, that can be a physical system of back to school anxiety. You can bring them to the pediatrician to make sure a medical problem isn’t being overlooked, but if the symptoms persist then going to school may be the root of the problem.
The best thing to do for a child who doesn’t want to go to school is to continue sending them. It may be hard if your child is very resistant, but if children are allowed to avoid any activity that makes them nervous, parents can inadvertently reinforce that going to school is dangerous or scary.
If the resistance to school is overwhelming for a parent and prolonged, then it’s time to get a mental health professional involved.
Using Art Therapy
There are some art therapy activities you can try out at home when your child starts feeling nervous before the start of school. If your child is struggling to adjust to the new, stricter routine, try creating a visual reminder for them.
This can look like a visual schedule or chore chart. Start by getting a big poster board and write their schedule for school. Waking up at a certain time, eating breakfast, packing your backpack, getting to school, class schedules, after school activities, and homework are all activities that can be featured.
You can also do a similar posterboard for their chore list if they’re struggling to get them done. You can list out the five or so chores they’re expected to finish each week. Make sure to not include too many chores or activities on the visual reminder as it might make it overwhelming for the child to look at.
Whatever poster or visual reminder you create for your child, make sure to get their buy in. Ask them to put their favorite stickers or images on the poster so it’s fun and engaging. We encourage parents to create the poster with their child present and make it a project to do together. The more fun and colorful the poster is, the more the child will be encouraged to look at it.
If your child is struggling with back to school and you need support, please reach out to us. Our team of therapists is here to provide support and guidance. We look forward to connecting with you.
