With a 12 year old entering Grade 7 this year and a 7 year old starting Grade 2, I’ve experienced my fair share of back-to-school triumphs and setbacks.
My first back-to-school experience with kids in September 2018 was really exciting as we got our eager lil 5-year-old ready to start kindergarten. My rookie mistake was that I scheduled his age 5 vaccinations the day before school started because he had just turned 5 on August 20. I was also returning to work from a short 4-month maternity leave the same day as his first day of school.
What a whirlwind that morning turned out to be! My boy was groggy and throwing up from his vaccinations while I was rushing around sleepless with a 4-month-old baby trying to get to work. My son ended up missing his first day of school, and I had an exhausting first day back to work.
This experience inspired me to not schedule anything big in the last couple of weeks of August or during the first few weeks of September. We delay our son’s birthday party because his friends are away in summer, but we don’t have it until late September, because the first few weeks of school are often overwhelming. School transition is huge for kids (and adults), and my goal is to make it as seamless as possible.
Another reason I try to keep things chill and light for the last week or so before school starts is so my kids are excited to go back and see their friends and “do something!” My kids’ complaints of “I’m so bored” in late August are echoed with “Great, let’s talk about all the fun stuff you’ll be doing back at school!” I know there’s the inclination to make the most of the last weekend of summer during Labour Day, but our family experience is that our kids are quite literally pooped the first week back to school if we do something big the weekend before.
We also try to get our kids on an earlier and more routine bedtime schedule a week before school starts.
For teens who may have had more responsibility over the summer caring for their younger siblings and/or parents, they may experience both relief and grief. School is just for them and they get to concentrate more on themselves, but they may be leaving an ill parent home alone during the day with a young child.
It’s important that all members of a household are safe and feeling well, but young teen carers really need to prioritize their own self-care with healthy eating and sleeping habits. Getting back to school is also a great opportunity for all youth, not just young carers, to connect with helpful adults and friends who can support them in their mental wellness plan.
With September just around the corner, parents, caregivers, teachers, and students are all preparing to return to school. While back-to-school can be an exciting time for some, others may be feeling anxious, fearful, stressed, or uncertain about the new school year.
Here is a list of tools and resources that we think share helpful information about caring for your mental health and well-being as we transition into a new school year. These materials can help facilitate conversations between adults and young people, and:
- Help develop coping skills
- Promote open communication
- Increase mental health literacy
- Share knowledge of how to identify potential mental health challenges
- Develop an understanding of the emotions others may face when returning to school this fall
Please note that while the resources listed are valuable tools, they are not intended for crisis intervention. If you or a loved one are in need and this is an emergency, please call 9-1-1. If it is not an emergency, but you do need someone to talk to, visit https://crisiscentre.bc.ca/get-help/ for a list of phone, text, and online crisis lines offered in over 140 languages.
FamilySmart has created helpful tools for families and adults who care for children with mental health challenges that may be struggling with attending school. These tools are separated into three age groups:
Anxiety Canada has a wide variety of helpful guides suitable for a range of ages. Resources available include strategies for handling anxiety about test-taking, perfectionism, OCD, social situations, and more.
Foundry BC has articles for youth who may be seeking additional support in their return to school:
Kelty Mental Health has gathered a list of resources for educators and counsellors to teach students mental health literacy:
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has created a guide to help adults navigate conversations on mental health and well-being with young people in their lives:
Jack.org and the Born This Way Foundation have created a comprehensive resource for young people. “Be There” helps youth and young adults learn how to identify and discuss mental health challenges and assist their peers in accessing mental health resources:
Kids Help Phone offers a list of resources for children and youth returning to school this fall. These wellness resources are for when you’re struggling with your mental health; experiencing anxiety about returning to school due to COVID-19; preparing for back to school while on a tight budget; changing schools; and more:
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) has a variety of articles on supporting students’ mental health during the return to school, including tips that can be used throughout the remainder of the summer:
- CMHO – Summer Ready
- Back-to-School Tips for Mental Health
- Six Tips to Support Your Child’s Mental Wellness and Prepare for the Start of the School Year
The BC Schizophrenia Society’s Kids and Teens in Control Programs provide a safe space to learn about mental illness, self-care, and coping skills, and talk with like-minded peers. The programs and drop-in groups are offered online to children and youth aged 8-18 who have a family member with a mental illness. To learn more, visit BCSS Youth.