With school back in session, it can be a time of mixed emotions, from elation to nervousness. John Garcia shows us how parents can help their children deal with stress, and tell the difference between jitters and an anxiety disorder.
SAN ANTONIO — More than a week into the new school year, the reality of academic expectations sets in. Sometimes a new routine can be overwhelming.
“Some kids have more stress than others, and some kids are more resilient than others,“ said psychologist Geoff Gentry with Clarity Child Guidance Center.
Gentry is one of many doctors who people turn to when the first report cards come in.
“Sometimes we see people who bring their kids to us who tell us, they wish they had acted sooner, and had sought help or asked a question or done something sooner,” said Gentry.
If stress or anxiety continues to become disruptive in a child’s daily life, it may signal a problem.
“If there is any kind of personality change - where you have a kid who is very outgoing, and now they’re kind of irritable, or not engaged in the same way that they did,” explained Gentry. “If the kid seems to be more pessimistic or display signs of hopelessness, that’s concerning. So, that would worth taking a look at.”
Being back at school can bring a mixture of feelings and memories, but only the good ones will help overcome the new year.
To learn more on additional resources to help your child succeed, visit changedirection.org or claritycgc.org.