Are your children anxious as the first day of school rapidly approaches?
Sea to Sky School District director of learning services Marilyn Caldwell told The Squamish Chief there are several things parents and students can do to calm pre-school jitters as about 4,500 students in the corridor head to school for the first day on Tuesday.
For most, their fear is “the unknown,” Caldwell said.
“Anxiety in general in our population is higher…. Many of our adults and children are anxious about a variety of things,” she explained. “What is causing it? I think it’s the unknown and being unsure of what’s there when you get there.”
For students who have a normal level of anxiety – and most students will experience some, “on the pendulum from being really excited to being really nervous” – she has a few suggestions.
“We encourage parents to get children back on their regular sleep habits,” she said. “It’s starting to get darker earlier, they can start getting to bed earlier… and have some of those routines get back.”
By getting to bed earlier and waking earlier in the morning, children will likely start having breakfast on schedule, which will set them up on a routine for the school year.
For children with a higher level of anxiety, one of the best strategies is to take them to the school now to alleviate their fears of the unknown, she suggested. If the principal is in the office, they can say hello for a minute, and visit the playground to familiarize themselves with the school again. They can even visit their new classroom and the gym.
“Being able to use the school gym – some children are really excited about things like that,” said Caldwell.
Some principals and counsellors will contact students they know might be especially nervous about first day and invite them to visit, she said.
Many children become anxious after they are away from school for a time, whether it’s due to illness or a summer break, or when they are starting at a new school.
She knows of one child in Grade 6 who had moved to the area and was so anxious about school starting that the child could not sleep. After visiting the school every day for the week or two before classes resumed, shooting baskets in the playground, checking out the new classroom and saying hello to the school staff, the child became more comfortable.
Principals are in their offices this week, and any child with anxiety is welcome to drop by, Caldwell said.
The school board also has programs set up to make transitions easier for those entering kindergarten, middle school and high school.
For three and four-year-olds, Ready, Set, Learn events are held every spring to allow children to get used to the new environment, which will include bells and fire drills that are not part of the regular routines in preschool or at home. The Strong Start centres in Squamish Elementary School and Valleycliffe Elementary also prepare kids for the classroom; the centres offer parent or guardian-participation programs for preschoolers.
There are also programs for students transitioning into middle school or high school, including Link Crew for new high school students, “so the kids aren’t nervous about meeting adolescents they don’t know,” said Caldwell.
“We have learned so much about anxiety in general over the last number of years, so as a school district, we have some systemic pieces in place that really help with transition.”
Caldwell herself remembers being particularly nervous going into Grade 8. “I grew up in North Vancouver,” she said. “I really didn’t want to go into Grade 8.”
However, when she got there, she quickly became comfortable by joining groups and getting into the school culture.
Students can also check school websites to learn about the events coming up, she noted. Knowing more about what’s ahead can reduce stress.
School starts Tuesday, Sept. 8.
