Beating the Back-to-School Blues

Published August 2011: eHow Family & Relationships

Beating the Back-to-School Blues
Getting Your Child Back into a Healthy Groove

Article Excerpt:

Although the sun is shining bright and summertime is a fresh reality for your child, many schools are ramping up for school sessions to begin in mid-August. At a time when your child is still focused on sleeping in late, hanging out at the pool with friends and camping in the backyard, the thought of returning to school can spark anxiety, fear and the back-to-school blues.

Transition times are unsettling for the entire family, notes Anne Maxwell, a Colorado-based family therapist. “Even if the transition is to a known experience or event, it is a time of stress,” Maxwell said.

Many children respond to changes in routine by acting out, refusing to adopt a routine or withdrawing emotionally. As a parent, it’s often a challenge to get your child into a school routine and keep the household positive despite the looming back to school thoughts and activities.