Oh my goodness! We were just here talking about summer break! Now the school bell is a ringing and the drop off lines are already vying for the best position early the morning of the 12th. What might have felt like a blink for some (an eternity for others) is still a large transitional point for students and there is a lot of mental overload that comes with school time. Rigid routines, mental load of homework, ever shifting social relationships, phone withdrawals, all of these are very real and stressful for child and caregiver.
Mental health concerns are real and prevalent in our community and with our young people. Large transitions and social shifts after a prolonged break can exacerbate or fuel some concerns. Let’s cover 3 points and then have a little debrief.
- Point One: Jackson County is very fortunate that the majority of youth are attending K-8 schools. This takes out transitions which can be the hardest for youngest and oldest learners—new geography. Rising Kindergarten, 1st, and 9th graders are at the biggest risk for anxiety about a new building (and new classmates). They have to learn a new school, new schedule, and new cohort for the first time in several years.
- Point Two: Grade transitions. Students had a routine on lock and now they are learning new material, new classmates, and those transitioning into Elementary (1st), Middle (6th), and High School (9th) have a rush of new everything. Even remaining in the same physical building, shifting expectations and workload in these transitional years can come as a surprise to students who may lash out or become emotional.
- Point Three: Social shifts. Summer may not have felt that long, but it could have been long enough for those relationships to weaken, especially if your student may be in a class with mostly unfamiliar faces while their closest friends are in different rooms. As youth get older, there might be some brewing drama as well, this can have a very large negative impact on mental health, especially with social media leaving the door open for the drama to follow them home too.
So, those are 3 big problems for potential mental health for our students. What can we do to help?
- Acclimate your child to the new wake schedule for school 1-2 weeks before the first day.
- Make sure there is time away from screens/social media daily outside of school.
- For younger learners, consider making a comfort kit for their first few days. This can include an (approved) fidget/sensory toy, a family photo, a handwritten note, or a reminder about practiced coping skills.
- Ensure your child has a water bottle and healthy, brain fueling snacks. Granola bars, fruit, yogurt, jerky, etc.
- Most importantly: Be a support for them. Shutting down or lashing out may not be attitude, but developing minds not having healthy ways to express anxiety or stress.
