5 Ways To Ease Your Teen Back To School

For the first time in a couple of years, students are returning to school without masks and with increased mental health struggles.

Depression and anxiety in teens as well as children have been on the rise, and the pandemic didn’t improve mental health.

Though it may seem hopeless, there is an opportunity to help ease your students back into school successfully.

Teenagers may experience worry, so it can be helpful to address mental health right away.

It may start with acknowledging that your teen’s emotional and mental threshold has shifted.

As a parent, guardian, or influential adult; you may have your own mental health struggles as a result of the last couple of years. You can help your teens while you support yourself.

In fact, you may notice that the tools you are using to cope can also help the teens in your life too.

Encourage your teen to be patient and kind to their self as they navigate going back to school and the school anxiety that comes along with it, especially if they will be attending a new school.

Noticing increased anxiety doesn’t mean your child has an anxiety disorder. This can be a normal part of returning to school or attending a new school.

Here are 5 tips to help your teen ease back into school:

1.  Create A Plan.

Even though most students have returned already, it is not too late to be proactive about going back to school.

Ask your teen what might be helpful in easing their anxiety about returning to school and make a helpful plan together.

It’s okay to spend time on the grounds of the school when class is not in session, with permission. Your teen or pre-teen can acclimate by walking around campus inside or out, playing on the playground, or walking the track at the middle school or high school.

You can develop a sense of safety with your teen by getting acclimated to where they spend their time. You can also help them to feel more comfortable with special school supplies they may find comforting, like fidget toys, for instance.

If your anxiety is high, take care of yourself first.

It is not helpful to smother your teen with what you think works best.

It is better to put yourself at ease and stay curious rather than judgmental.

Be open to changing the plan if your teen has given it a couple of weeks and it doesn’t feel okay to you or your teen.

Their school routine doesn’t have to look the same as you planned if their needs change.

2. Stay Responsive.

When your teen or teenagers share information with you about their day, stay responsive.

Read More: “5 Reasons Your Teen Doesn’t Talk To You”

Ask questions that allow for teens to share the good, bad, and in between about their school day.

Rather than have a reaction, take a breath.

That way, you can be open to what you are hearing.

Not every situation needs advice.

Try to guide problem solving without judgment.

You may have a great idea for your teen but manipulating your way into a solution is not helpful.

This can even create more stress.

It can feel very difficult to see your teen fail at attempts that could have been successes.

It is still important to provide a safe space for failure because it can be positively impactful.

That being said, staying responsive also means that you are checking in with your teen for any changes in behavior, eating, or sleeping habits.

You can connect with a school counselor or a teen therapist to help you.

3. Develop New Habits Together.

Life is different, and your response might need to be different as a result.

Read More: “5 Tips To Engaging With Your Teen”

Rather than doing what you have always done and getting the same outcome, you may want to try something new.

Think outside of the box.

You can take a walk with your teen after dinner, put something special on the calendar, make dinner together, or even create a journal practice.

A journal can be a safe way to exchange questions and answers if they feel uncomfortable in person.

You can be open about not being perfect. You may not have all of the answers, and you can say that with transparency.

A new healthy habit can go a long way when you are developing a relationship with your teen.

4. Avoid Blaming COVID For Everything.

COVID was not helpful in improving mental health, and it wasn’t the only reason that mental health struggles were on the rise.

When you blame everything on COVID, you may negate real feelings within your teen.

Acknowledge that there was trauma as a result of the pandemic, and you can also help your teen understand that it is okay to feel emotions no matter the time.

The goal is not to make everything better but rather accept that better looks different depending on the season in your life. Asking and answering questions with your teen can help you to build a stronger relationship.

Your teen might not have anything to say. You can respect their boundary and continue to reiterate that you are a safe person in their life.

You or your teen may need help from a clinical therapist if your teen has changing behaviors that indicate the need for help for depression or anxiety. That is okay. Your teen deserves a loving support system.

5. Remain hopeful.

Going back into the school year can seem overwhelming for both you and your teen.

Read More: “Common Questions About Anxiety Answered”

Get things on the calendar that feel fun for both you and your teen. This can include extracurricular activities but is not limited to school experiences.

You can have a family movie night, a fun shopping trip, a spa day, game night, puzzle night or something else that feels fun for the whole family.

It doesn’t have to look a certain way, and when everything may feel serious, laughing can be powerful.

Create a safe space for both hard and fun so that your teen knows it is okay to feel a gamut of emotions.

It may take more patience, and you and they are worth it.

…

Going back to school may have seemed daunting, and there are ways to help ease both you as well as your teen back into a helpful routine.

Incorporate fun into your routine to help create a safe space. It is okay to laugh and play even when your teens get older.

If signs of anxiety and depression arise, there is professional help available to you. It is okay to reach out to teen counseling services ensure that your teen gets the help they need.

Not everything will look perfect, and you can make progress with your loved ones by taking small steps each day.

If you are concerned about your teen’s emotional well-being as they return to school, we offer teen counseling in Denver and outside of Denver, we offer online therapy for teens in Colorado.

We also offer parent support, for parents looking for guidance on parenting teens.

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Written by: Randi Thackeray, MA
Clinically Reviewed and Edited by: Julie Reichenberger, MA, LPC, ACS, ACC