Back to School is here and it’s a big transition for everyone. Transitions are powerful experiences for children--the anticipation of the change, the trepidation around the unknown, the shift away from the easy summer days. It’s normal for kids, and parents, to feel big emotions at transition times like these. Expressing those anxieties can be a positive experience, but, at times, kids might try to find control through challenging behaviors.
You might be seeing some of those today! Things like not wanting to eat breakfast, oversleeping, refusing to go to bed, etc… These behaviors invite us as parents to keep our boundaries firm, compassion active, and to stay connected to the warmth we feel towards our kids in more relaxed times, like in summer. Although these behaviors are challenging, especially at a time when we ourselves are scrambling to adjust, it’s helpful to see them as symptoms of anxiety, not bad behavior. There are some simple tools we can use to soothe concerns and reconnect as a family in the new structure of the school year. Some ideas you might try incorporating to reduce anxiety and ease into a smooth Fall schedule are:
Managing the back to school transition can be an opportunity to create your diet of connection and ease with your family to last you through the year. If you are ready for more tools to help keep your family connected and soothed this school year, sign up for one of these Social Skills or Parenting Groups in San Francisco or Berkeley. Individual and Family Play therapy are available as well. Schedule a 15-minute phone consult now: Karen Wolfe, MFT [email protected] 415-420-9459 Nancy Wallin, MFT [email protected] 530-902-1154
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AuthorKaren Wolfe, MFT is a psychotherapist in San Francisco and the East Bay. She is passionate about helping children and families thrive and has particular expertise with children with exceptional learning and sensory styles. Archives
August 2016
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