So, you are almost at the end of your break and it’s almost time to go back to school. As simple and natural as this process is, it can be quite stressful for some people: both children and parents.

It is important to be able to identify if that’s happening in your family. Usually, stressed children have mood swings, as well as headaches and difficulty sleeping. Adults can have similar symptoms as well, and if the parents are stressed it can make the kid’s situation even worse.

But how to deal with this important moment? Is it possible to avoid it without avoiding school itself? The answer is yes, and here in this article we are going to show 3 simple tips to help you with that:

1.    Get to know the unknown

A situation can become very stressful and scary if you don’t know much about it. When it comes to going back to school, not knowing what to expect (especially if you are in the middle of a school transition) can be the root of a hurricane of emotions. But how can you avoid getting sucked into it? Well, it can be quite simple: research about it. Call the school, check out their website, ask for brochures and get to know more about what you are getting into. The more information you have, the more confident you will be.

2.    Prepare a routine

Planning is one of the main tips for anxious people in general, and it can help a lot at this moment. Whiteboards are not just for teachers, and they can be your best friend in this situation. Set short-term and long-term goals, talk about how the morning routine is going to be when it will be time to do homework…

It’s also important to make sure that there is enough time for sleep and proper healthy meals.

And preparing a routine also includes making time to get out of it. This means that you should always include time to do fun activities and be spontaneous. This not only reduces stress but is essential for the learning process.

3.    Talk about it

Hiding a problem and pretending it doesn’t exist is never a good choice. So, talking about it, in many senses, is essential to deal with this anxious moment. For parents, it’s important to first identify what is causing it in their children. Is it because they don’t know anyone at the new school or they don’t have many friends in the current school? Maybe they are overwhelmed by the curriculum or having issues with a teacher. You might also want to talk to other parents and teachers to get a different perspective. This is especially important in case of kids that don’t like to talk much.

And, if you judge necessary, talk to a counsellor about it. Therapy is not for weak people! Don’t be afraid to look for the specialized help you need.

So, now that you are all stress-free get your backpack and lunchbox and go to school. You don’t want to be late for your first day, do you?