Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health Offers Tips to Combat Kids' Anxieties for the Start of School

Wednesday, August 14th, 2024 -- 12:01 PM

(Hope Kirwan, Wisconsin Public Radio) The start of the school year can mean new school supplies and schedules, as well as new anxieties for some Wisconsin students.

According to Hope Kirwan with the Wisconsin Public Radio, the latest report from the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health shows more than half of high school students reported experiencing anxiety when surveyed last spring. Linda Hall, director of the state agency, said both girls and boys reported that school was their top source of stress.

“At the beginning of the school year, it’s really about having to get back into a building with lots of people,” Hall said. “You’re going to have a different teacher, or maybe a different set of teachers, you’re going to be with a different set of kids and it can all be new.”

She said there are ways adults can recognize back-to-school stress in their kids, and help students reset the way they think about returning to classes. Hall said the easiest way for parents and guardians to find out if their student is anxious about the start of school is to ask them about it.

Getting kids involved in extracurricular activities at school can be another way to address their fears and boost self-confidence, Hall said. Hall said parents and guardians need to make sure their student is eating healthy and has a good sleep schedule before the start of the year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that children who do not get the recommended eight or more hours of sleep have a higher risk of poor mental health, as well as obesity and attention or behavior problems.

Adults also need to watch for signs that their child is experiencing a more serious type of stress or anxiety around the start of school.

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