Mental Health Tips for Children Going Back to School

When transitioning from summer vacation to the school year, children’s mental health may change. Their sleep schedule, eating habits and spare time is altered which can affect their mood and feelings. As a parent, you can help your child transition easier by following the suggestions below.

• Have a consistent bedtime. Depending on the age of your child, you may have to enforce a bedtime. By having them bathe, brush their teeth, and put their electronic devices away around the same time every night will provide them with a consistent bedtime routine to help them fall asleep. Having enough sleep each night will improve their mood for the next day, as well as give them enough energy to complete their school day.
• Make sure they eat healthily. If your child doesn’t like the school lunch that day, make sure they have food at home to pack a lunch. If your child is hungry all day because they didn’t like the menu at school, they will be grumpy and have trouble concentrating. At home, they also need a nutritious meal. Everyone may have different schedules, but if you make time to eat as a family, everyone can feel connected while enjoying delicious food.
• Remind your child that grades are important but aren’t what defines them. Earning good grades is important to show your child is excelling at the subjects they’re learning, but you don’t want to make them feel like their grades is what makes you love them. Expressing that you’re proud of them, even for the little things, can improve their drive and well-being.
• Listen and don’t overreact. If your child does come to you to talk, make sure you listen to them and don’t interrupt them. Let them tell you what’s going on in their lives – good or bad – and tell them that you’re happy they told you. Often times, children may be scared to tell their parents something because they’re scared of how they’ll react. Providing a safe space for open communication is important to a child’s well-being. If you overreact to something your child said, they may second-guess confiding in you in the future and could make them feel like a disappointment.
• Watch for subtle signs of problems. If your child is moody, not spending time with their friends or their grades are different than normal, it’s time to check in with them. They may be experiencing bullying, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or something you could help them through. Even if they push you away, it’s important that they know that you care and want to help them through any problem that they’re experiencing. If you feel they need professional help to determine how to best resolve their problems, contact EAP at (319) 398-6575.

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