Deborah Howell (Host): Oh, there are so many emotional challenges that children and teens face as they transition back to school. Our guest today, Dr. Amy Morse, a Board Certified Psychologist in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at Miller Children's and Women's Hospital and the Guidance Center will share expert insights and practical strategies for parents and caregivers to help ease anxiety, build resilience, and foster a confident start to the school year.

Welcome Dr. Morse.

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: Thank you for having me.

Host: Let's jump in. Why do children and teens often experience anxiety when returning to school?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: You know, transitions can be difficult for kids, especially the return to school. Children enjoy the summer months because they're filled with fun activities, unstructured time, and very few expectations. And for some kids, school can be stressful because of those academic expectations or social stress.

Children who experience this may become a little overwhelmed by the thoughts and feelings associated with new teachers, classes, new kids, when the new year starts. And so really, fear of the unknown is a big part of the return to school experience.

Host: Boy, as you were saying that my heart fluttered a little and I had some of those return tapes rolling. You know, I remember those. It is just, it's a lot.

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: It sure is.

Host: And what are some of the most common signs of back to school anxiety in children and teens?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: Some kids may say to a caregiver that they don't want to go back to school. Other kids may say they're feeling nervous or have a stomach ache or a headache. Some kids have a hard time falling asleep in the days leading up to school, and other kids may be self-critical or self-conscious.

So, it's important that caregivers talk with kids about their thoughts and feelings and remind them about the ways they've managed fear of the unknown in the past. And I just want to add, if caregivers have concerns about a child's health, they should consult with a child's pediatrician.

Host: Sure. Well, that makes me want to ask you, how can parents differentiate between normal nervousness and more serious anxiety that may need professional attention?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: When caregivers notice that a child's behavior is more extreme than in prior transitions to school, a child may be more angry or grumpy or even appear more anxious, those are important things to keep in mind. For some kids, they experience persistent sleep difficulties or lose their appetite.

When caregivers notice these things and perceive that a child's behavior is more persistent, bigger than really the situation and getting in the way of their day-to-day functioning, they may want to seek additional support.

Host: Yeah, that's an excellent observation. What are some proactive steps families can take in the weeks leading up to the first day of school, maybe to reduce their anxiety levels a little bit?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: Yeah, I appreciate this question because there are quite a few things that parents can do. First and foremost, it's helpful for parents to maintain family schedules and rituals to just generally increase predictability and stability at home. In the weeks leading up to the transition to school, it's important for parents to get their kids back to their school schedule, and this includes their school sleep routine.

So helping kids get used to waking up at the time that they will for school is really important in the days leading up to the transition. And it can also be helpful for parents to enjoy in the fun of getting ready for school, organizing backpacks and school supplies, getting ready for their lunch plans.

So it's an opportunity for parents and kids to come together and get ready in a practical way, and also discuss how kids have managed their transitions in the past. What they're looking forward to about school and how they can be flexible and open to exciting changes in the new school year. You know, after all, kids are really resilient.

Host: And you can say, I got you. You've done this in the past. Here we go. You're going to crush it. Right?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: That's right.

Host: Now, how can caregivers create a supportive morning routine that sort of helps ease the transition from home to school?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: Well, I don't know about your experiences getting kids ready in the morning, but surely I think as a parent, there's an element of my heart going a flutter, trying to make sure that we take care of everything before we leave. So it's important for parents to take extra time in the morning before school to allow for unexpected things or delays to come up.

Sometimes kids are going to need a little extra time to complete their morning routine. And that can be the same for parents as well. And parents remaining calm and flexible themselves really help provide kids with the support they need to manage that anxiety when they're returning to school.

Host: I grew up in Minnesota and invariably there'd be some weather event before the first day of school, like a huge, huge rainstorm or even a tornado or something like that. So, I mean, you know, parents can do what they need to do for their kids specifically, but also look at other factors in the environment that might affect getting to school on time and getting them there safely.

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: 100%.

Host: So I'm hoping you can give us some specific strategies that work well for younger children versus teenagers.

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: There's some very practical things that can be helpful for young children, such as using visual schedules like a whiteboard with the school schedule on it so that children are reminded both verbally and visually of what will happen in their day. Calendars with the school schedule and weekly activities that are on the fridge can be helpful.

And also giving kids a task to focus on each morning before school, such as introducing themselves to a peer or raising their hand to ask a question in class are important in helping younger kids through the transition.

Host: Those are great ideas. Now, how can parents talk to their children about their fears without reinforcing them?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: Oh, this happens so often. I think it's not uncommon for parents to want to create space for kids to talk about their fears, and the conversation lingers. It's important that families model conversations about stressors and feelings all throughout the year. And when kids do talk about those fears, it's also important for parents to remind kids that they're a team together.

They will be working together to help to provide the child the support they need. And it's important for parents to remind kids about how they will cope on their own when they feel anxious. Once those conversations have taken place, it is also okay for parents to pivot to a new conversations when they want to help their children transition to a new topic.

Host: Sure. I remember even back in the day, it was so much about the clothes and you had to have this certain pair of jeans and you know, there are different socioeconomic realms that kids live in. And so, you know, there's a sensitivity to that. Then of course on top of that you put social media. So what role does social media or peer comparison play in back to school stress, especially for the teens?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: Well, you are right with this question. It plays a big part. Jeans in the past and now social media today. So teens value the social favorability that comes along with interactions in their peer group and on social media, they compare themselves to peers who have more social favorability because they have more likes on social media.

For teens these days, information and social media is permanent and it feels pervasive. While social favorability changes when we are face-to-face, right, based on changing circumstances, those likes on social media do really create a sense of permanence. So for teens that perceive that their social favorability on social media is low, the return to school can feel more daunting.

Host: Oh boy. Feeling fortunate we didn't have to deal with at least that in our time, but really feel for the kids who put a lot of emphasis on that. Hoping to guide them through any way we can. How can educators and school staff support students who are struggling with anxiety in the classroom?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: There are a couple of really practical ways that school staff and educators can help. One of them, I do believe happens pretty regularly, and so I'm going to reinforce what's being done, which is creating the space to have a conversation about stress and anxiety in the classroom as a group, really normalizing that experience.

And sending a message to the students that feelings are valid. They're recognized. They're supported. Another really important piece is for school staff to encourage positive peer interactions. That can happen in small group work in the classroom, in assemblies and opportunities for Club activities and others.

So really creating those safe spaces for peers to interact is important.

Host: I think you really hit the nail on the head there. Those small groups seem to really pay off, don't they?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: They really do, and it provides so many teens with an opportunity to communicate in a way that they might not in a larger group. So they're working on their communication skills and they're fostering those relationships.

Host: And those clubs too. Because you enter a club, a math club, or a chess club or a, you know, tennis team, and suddenly you have at least one thing in common with everybody there.

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: You sure do, and a shared goal.

Host: A shared goal. That's it. Well, oh my gosh, we've learned a lot from you today, as always. Anything else you'd like to add?

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: Overall, teens and kids are super duper resilient, and it's important that all of the individuals, peers, supportive adults, and surely caregivers continue to remind our youth about how resilient they are and how they can get through tough situations.

Host: Yeah. Bravo. Well, thank you so much Dr. Morse for your time and your expertise today. We enjoyed having you on the podcast as always. Thank you so much.

Amy Morse, PsyD, ABPP: Thank you.

Host: And if you'd like to learn more or seek additional resources, please visit millerchildren's.org/mentalhealth. That's all for this time. I'm Deborah Howell. Have yourself a terrific day.