As summer winds down, many children eagerly anticipate the back-to-school season. However, for others, the transition to structured routines, academic pressures, and social fears can trigger significant anxiety. A recent survey found that 64% of children's worries are school-related.
According to cognitive neuroscientist Robert Alexander, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and wellness at New York Institute of Technology, this anxiety is rooted in the brain's predictive nature. "Our brains are prediction machines, and our nervous systems constantly try to anticipate what will happen next, so that we can respond appropriately and stay safe," he explains. "The beginning of a new school year disrupts many of those predictions all at once—old routines are broken, expectations and environments change, children are presented with new classrooms, teachers, classmates, and other daily adjustments."
While some nervousness during transitions is developmentally normal, children prone to anxiety may find the return to school especially overwhelming. Alexander advises parents to recognize the signs, which can be indirect. Common indicators include changes in sleep, irritability, difficulty concentrating, appetite changes, clinginess, or social withdrawal.
The best way to reduce anxiety is preparation. "Preparation helps make things more predictable and allows us to adapt to changes," Alexander says. He recommends visiting the school, discussing routines, and gradually re-establishing bedtimes before classes begin. "Sleep, in particular, plays a major role in emotional regulation and stress resilience."
Parents also set the emotional tone at home. "Children often look to adults for cues on how they should respond to a situation," Alexander notes. "Responding with calm confidence can send a powerful message of safety."
For in-the-moment overwhelm, children can practice calming techniques like slow breathing. Alexander suggests inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for six. However, he cautions against eliminating anxiety entirely. "Confidence grows through small wins," he says. "When children successfully introduce themselves to a new friend, find their new classroom, or survive their first week at a new school, they learn that they are capable in those environments. But children who are prone to anxiety may need some extra help moving through those feelings successfully."
Alexander is one of many New York Tech faculty members applying their expertise to real-world challenges. For more information, visit nyit.edu.
