Back to School Blues

It is coming and we cannot deny it.  Each morning as my alarm goes off at 6 AM the sky seems just a little bit darker than the day before.  The days are getting shorter, cooler breezes are blowing and the school year is about to begin (or depending upon where you are in the country, it already has).

A few weeks ago, Connect360 posted a blog about the importance of addressing childrens’ mental health issues over summer break.  Today we want to point you in the direction of some resources that specifically address those “back-to-school blues” — often characterized by anxiety about returning to the school-year routine.

Earlier this week, CNN released a video of a series of interviews conducted at Yomi, the day camp at the 92nd Street Y.  They interviewed a group of students entering the first through fourth grades about what they are most anxious about as the new school year begins.  Though answers varied, the overwhelming majority expressed concern about academic performance, specifically, homework.

Here are some great online resources for you to help manage your child’s back-to-school anxiety:

What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious (Child Mind Institute)

School Success Kit for Kids with ADHD (Child Mind Institute)

Square Root of Kids’ Math Anxiety:  Their Parents’ Help (The New York Times)

Overcoming Homework Anxiety (Education.com)

Eight Tips for Managing Homework Anxiety (Health Central)

Coping with School Stress (WebMD)

Connect360 helps organizations like the Child Mind Institute spread their important messages via public service announcements and the web.  To learn more about Connect360’s services, please contact us.