New School Anticipation: 20 Thoughts to Manage Anxiety
By Nadine Briggs
Worry comes about when we don’t know what to expect, and that is certainly true for any new school year. In particular, kids who are changing schools can really struggle with anxiety. Kids worry about the new and unfamiliar environment and this can cause sleepless nights, tears, difficult behavior and other signs of high anxiety.
When my daughter, Megan, was making the move from the elementary school to the middle school, she was extremely nervous. Her anxiety-driven tears came early in the summer and we needed a strategy to help her cope. A big part of giving her the tools to cope was to provide a way to process the change in her mind.
One summer day, we stopped by the middle school to take a few pictures and look around. We took pictures of the gym, basketball court, lunch room, and even a few staff members allowed us to snap pictures of them. We placed the pictures in a small photo book so she could look at them often over the summer months. We also added thoughts about the transition to remind her that not all new things are bad and that she was going to be just fine. The book had the following notes:
- It’s OK to be nervous.
- Just be yourself.
- I will see old friends and make new ones.
- I love school!
- Just breathe.
- I will get used to the new school.
- It’s OK.
- Focus on fun things.
- Stay calm.
- Try not to think of things that make me feel stressed.
- The middle school has dances and I love to dance.
- Be myself.
- The other kids are probably nervous too.
- Focus on the work.
- I can do my best.
- I can be strong.
- It’s not that big a deal.
- If I get lost or confused, there are people there to help.
- The teachers will help you.
- I’m ready for this.
Use photo books, social stories, reminder cards, cell phone videos and stories of how you yourself managed a big move. Whichever tools you use are up to you. The important message is that new is not bad, just different and that new becomes the familiar in no time at all.
