As students prepare for school, there’s a few tips parents should know to help them transition.
WPTV sat down with a school counselor from Pierce Hammock Elementary School. Ellen Chance says “the best way to get rid of the pre-school jitters is to be prepared, prioritize and keep a positive mindset.”
Transitioning back to school can be stressful and disruptive for the entire family. In the days leading up Chance says they can become anxious.
“This isn’t something to be ashamed of, this is something that many people go through and there are ways to seek help.”
Chance says its important to help find ways to mitigate the anxiety some students feel, “Maybe it’s the kindergarten student who’s just starting school and is having a little bit of separation anxiety, or it’s the third-grade student who is testing for their first time.”
But Chance said it is something that should be addressed, “Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses diagnosed in children.”
Bullying
According to Dosomething.org, 3.2 million students are victims of bullying every year.
Chance says bullying is on the rise because students can’t escape it once they are home because it is on their phones and on social media.
Chance says, "If you notice that your child is withdrawn, maybe they’re spending more time in their room than they used to, they’re not really socializing with the same friends, not even the same family members,” your child may be a victim of bullying.
“Encourag(e) your child to get to know the trusted adults at school, whether it be their teachers, their school counselor, the principals or other school staff members that they can rely on for support,” said Chance. “It’s just very important to communicate with your child about their school day, about the friends that they’re making, and the support within the school that they’ve built.”