The start of the school year can cause anxiety for a child, especially if it s a first-time experience or he ll be attending a new school. Remind the child how much fun he or she had in preschool, Sunday school or day camp. If the child still expresses anxiety, try to pinpoint the source. To help the child adjust to new faces, get a class roster and set up a play date with a new classmate before school begins. For some children, the first or second week will be rough, Baker-Ward says.
Some children are shyer and take longer to warm up.
For example, drive him to school for the first week to allow time to adapt to the new school situation. Introduce the bus ride the second week. Above all else, keep lines of communication open among you, your child and his teacher. Being involved in your child s school helps both him and his teachers do their best. This site is maintained by the NC State University News Services office.