Anxious schooldays
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
Can school make kids worried or fearful? For some kids, at some point, yes. The start of a new school year can be a major event in a child’s life, especially if it’s a new school or maybe the start of first grade. But when kids are anxious, parents can help them adjust.
Pediatrician George Askew, the chief medical officer of HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, says parents can reduce anxiety by making this start of something new fit into the pattern of the child’s life. For instance:
“Making lunches the same time at night, setting aside a place to study where the child knows that’s their study space; putting together a family calendar that lists all the important calendar dates, important school days.”
And he advises just being around to listen helps a lot.
Learn more at healthfinder.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.