anxiety in school

Anxiety isn’t the easiest feeling to identify given that it manifests itself in numerous ways. Some children may just be able to recognize that they are nervous but others may have an upset stomach, engage in disruptive behavior or sometimes it may even affect academic performance. Take a step back and think of what it feels like for you when you get anxious. Think about the ways it makes your thoughts become tangled and the way it feels like you cannot think of anything else and become hyper focused on the feeling of anxiety. Now, picture your child going through that in school when they are entering school for the first time, when they are taking a test, when they are being called on to read or maybe even when they are engaging in a conversation with a new friend. I think we can all agree that it is something we do not wish any child to experience.

Some tips for recognizing anxiety in your child are as follows:

1. Your child may seem inattentive and restless. Even though these symptoms are usually thought of as ADHD, a lot of times anxiety presents itself similarly. Think about it as your child being so preoccupied they are unable to think clearly which causes them to become inattentive and restless.

2. Refusing to go to school and wanting to stay home with you or alone are also signs of anxiety. Remind your child that everything is going to be okay and remind them of what you have planned for after school. Some children feel more at ease when their parent shares in the excitement of seeing them again.

3. Children who begin to engage in disruptive behavior (especially if that is not like them).