School starts next week and while some children may be excited to see friends and get back into a routine, other children will feel anxious and worried.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very common for children and youth to experience anxiety and stress as they head back to school,B次元官网网址� says Island Health Psychologist, Lisa Van Bruggen, Ph.D. B次元官网网址淭ry role-playing through what may be socially challenging situations for some children such as not having close friends in class or being assigned a tough teacher. Having a plan can reduce anxiousness.B次元官网网址�

Here are some tips to prepare for back to school and signals that your child might need extra support.

Tips for parents and guardians to support students:

B次元官网网址� Get into a routine now: set sleep and wake times

B次元官网网址� Talk to your child about their worries and then try role-playing through situations

B次元官网网址� Practise walking, biking or busing to school

B次元官网网址� Focus on the positive aspects; ask your child, B次元官网网址淲hat are you most excited about for your first day of school?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� Ask your child to help choose the outfits for the first week of school

B次元官网网址� Together with your child, pack up the schoolbag the night before, including treats

B次元官网网址� Set up regular talk-time throughout the school year to encourage your child to share fears

B次元官网网址� Help your child develop healthy coping and problem-solving skills

Consider seeking professional help if your child:

B次元官网网址� Frequently attempts to stay home from school

B次元官网网址� Refuses to attend school on certain days

B次元官网网址� Worries constantly or shows extreme shyness

B次元官网网址� Raises physical complaints with no medical explanation (stomach aches, headaches, difficulty catching his or her breath)

B次元官网网址� Throws tantrums, cries or screams excessively

B次元官网网址� Begins to act B次元官网网址榦ut of characterB次元官网网址�

Youth aged 15 to 24 years may benefit from an app created by Island Health and funded by Coast Capital Savings called Booster Buddy. The self-manage support system encourages youth to share their feelings, keep track of appointments and medications, use coping skills, and follow self-care routines. BoosterBuddy can be downloaded at the App Store or Google Play and thereB次元官网网址檚 more information about the app on the There are also tools and support for youth at