The first week of school can lead to tantrums, stomach aches, and family stress. Underlying most of this back-to-school nerves. Daniel Wysocki Ed.S. a counselor in Jonesboro, AR says, “The first step to calm the worry is preparation.” Role-play what your child was concerned about. Maybe you pretend to be a fellow classmate giving them a difficult time, and then pretend to be a friendly classmate. They have likely experienced both. A child being told everything will be ok, could not be prepared for those inevitable times it is not.
After this mental activity, take the time to SIFT through all the Sensations, Images, Feelings, and Thoughts affecting them. This imagery-based emotion exposure will allow your student to be prepared for the school challenges with a fun positive family experience that builds communication and calms back to school worries.
