Five Acres adoptive parents, Shana Honeyman and Robert Forman with Leonard, their son. Photo courtesy of Five Acres
Young children going back to school can have big feelings about the transition from summer to a new academic year. Five Acres, a foster care and adoptions charity based in Altadena, provide support to parents, caregivers, and families to improve relationships, develop skill sets, and cope with symptoms in a positive and safe way.
Five Acres Director of Training and Organizational Development Kate McGevna offers seven practical and compassionate tips for parents and caregivers on how to help their children, especially those with anxiety, transition smoothly back to school.
Begin talking about school a few weeks before it starts. Ask open-ended questions like:What are you looking forward to?Is there anything you’re nervous about?This helps normalize their feelings and gives you time to address concerns.
Re-establish routines gradually. Ease into school-year routines like: Earlier bedtimes, morning wake-ups, and regular mealtimes. Predictability can reduce anxiety and help kids feel more in control.
Visit the school, if possible. If the school allows it, take a tour, meet the teacher, or walk through the schedule. Familiarity with the environment can reduce fear of the unknown.
Create a visual countdown. Use a calendar or countdown chart to mark the days until school starts. Include fun milestones like shopping for supplies, packing the backpack, and choosing the first-day outfit.
Practice coping skills. Teach and rehearse calming techniques such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, naming colors in the room, and counting backward from 10-1. These tools can help kids manage anxiety in the moment.
Validate their feelings. Avoid saying “Don’t worry” or “You’ll be fine.” Instead, try:“It’s ok to feel nervous. Lots of kids feel that way.”“I’m here to help you through it.”
Focus on the positives. Highlight exciting aspects of schoollike seeing friends, learning new things, and fun activities or clubs. Help them build a mental list of things to look forward to.
Parenting education is one of the ways Five Acres provides support to the families they serve across six counties. In addition, team members through the Five Acres Wear Your Heart initiative increase access to early mental health support through resource linkages, strategic referrals, and bilingual outreach across underserved communities. To learn more, visit 5acres.org/wear-your-heart.