7 Tips for Supporting Your Teen’s Return to School
By Emily Morrison, PhD
A new school year can bring a variety of emotions and often prompts teens to need additional support.
Here are some things that all parents can do to smooth the transition into the school year.
Offer Reassurance
Before the new school year starts, encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings with you about returning to school. By offering gentle reassurance that it is common for students to feel anxiety at the start of a school year, you are showing your child that they can trust you with their feelings, they can come to you for support when they need it, and that their experiences are not unusual.
Ask Non-Performance-Based Questions
Our teens are constantly evaluated in school and online. When you talk with your teen, avoid starting the conversation with “How did you do on your Algebra test?” Instead, stick with non-performance-based questions. Ask your teen what they ate for lunch, who they sat with, or who made them laugh the hardest. Doing so will help your teen trust that you love them regardless of the grade on the Algebra test.
Set Routines
Help your child prepare for the routine of school by working together to setup a daily schedule. Include a regular wake-up and bedtime, meal and snack times, times for homework, and time for relaxation. It can help to start this daily schedule before school starts so your teen has time to adjust their sleep schedule to the demands of the early school mornings.
Attend Orientations
Attend school orientation meetings, which often include opportunities for finding classrooms and lockers, practicing navigation of the school, meeting teachers, and social opportunities for students. Even if there isn’t a pre-scheduled orientation at your school, contact your school administrator to schedule a visit to help your teen gain familiarity and confidence for their first day.
Encourage Social Interactions
Support your teen with setting up social interactions with peers, ideally before school starts. Rekindling old friendships and reaching out to new classmates can help ease students’ transitions back into school and make the first few days more fun.
Monitor Social Media
Monitor your child’s electronic device and social media usage. Ask your teen about their social media and online life. Understand which platforms they are using and know who your teen might be talking to and who can see your teen’s profile.
Encourage Their Interests
Encourage and support your teen’s engagement in extra-curricular interests and activities. Your local community or school may have offerings that could be additional sources of positive social and emotional support for your child.
You are the expert on your child. If you notice a change in your teen’s behavior or sense that something isn’t right, contact your pediatrician, primary-care physician (PCP), or a mental health professional.
Mental Health America (mhanational.org) is offering a virtual event for parents on 9/20/2023 at 1:00 pm ET focused on helping parents understand how teens/tweens/children are using technology and some of the associated challenges and risks. Please see the registration information below:
“I Don’t Know How to Navigate My Child’s Use of Technology: 9/20/2023 1 PM ET/10 AM PT
https://mhanational.org/events/i-dont-know-how-navigate-my-childs-use-technology
For more resources that can help if you’re worried please see our list of resources here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Emily Morrison, PhD
PhD
