Child Counselor offers Tips to Relieve the First Day Back to School Nerves

By Published On: August 1st, 20192.6 min read

For most students there is the fear of the unknown when going back to school.

  1. Will my teacher(s) like me?
  2. Will I make friends or what do I say to make friends
  3. Will my classmates like me?
  4. Will I have a lot of homework?
  5. Can I make it on time to my classes?
  6. What do I wear the first day?
  7. Will I be the last person picked in P.E.?
  8. What if the kids think I am stupid or call me names?

These are just a few questions and fears students will express or internalize before starting back to school. As a parent it would be good to ask your students about their fears and if they have trouble expressing their concerns you might explore some of the above listed questions.

Here’s some suggestions Child/Adolescent Expert, Jim West gave on the Nationally Syndicated Cable News Show, The Daily Buzz:

  1. Assure them their questions and concerns are normal and to show respect to the teachers and they will like you!
  2. Agree with their feelings. Parent: “I can see you are concerned and I understand why because you are concerned some of the kids may not like you.” Student: “Yes” Parent: “Let’s talk about some ways to start conversations and affirm your peers to make your peers feel like a million bucks!”
  3. Do tours of the school and map out how they will go from class to class.
  4. Discuss what books and notebooks they will need for a few periods so they do not have to go to their locker every period.
  5. Go to orientation and meet their teachers as well as connect with mother’s of students in your kids classes. This relationship can lead to play dates and help your child to form relationships before school starts.
  6. Role play how to start conversations: Student: “My name is Johnny, whats your name?” Peer: “Austin” Student: “Nice to Meet you Austin. What do you like to do for fun?” Peer: “Play video games and basketball.” Student: “Me too. What lunch do you have?” Peer: “First lunch.” Student: “Me Too!” Peer: “Maybe we could sit together.” Student: “Sure”
  7. What to wear if you are unsure what your student should wear then withhold the new outfits until after the first couple of days. Your child can observe what the other students are wearing and then this will help them see what they should wear.
  8. Name Calling: Teach your kids how to roll with teasing and not to react or provoke the aggressor back: Peer: “You are a freak or gay!” Response: “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.” Peer: “Man you are really weird!” Response: “No wait that’s the best thing I’ve heard all day!” Peer: “You are strange!” Response: “Okay, well that’s the best thing I’ve heard all . . . no wait ‘strange’ was better!” Other responses can be found at this site.

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author avatar
Jim West
Adolescent Expert, Jim West offers expert advice to Local and National TV News & Schools Internationally and provides phone or face-to-face counseling in the Orlando area. Jim is an Author, Communicator, School Consultant, Nationally Certified and State Licensed Counselor and specializes in counseling for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). Jim has been interviewed for multiple TV, Radio, magazine and newspaper articles. He is president of Total Life Counseling Center and his Total Life approach accelerates the therapeutic & healing process by relating to children, adolescents and adults and incorporating wellness. Jim’s clients travel from all over Florida, England, Georgia, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas as he has been able to treat clients with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Depression and more with FDA approved supplements and Dietary Modifications. 85% of his clients have not needed medication or used less medication than when they first came to Total Life Counseling Center.

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Total Life Counseling Center consists of Licensed Counselors, masters level therapists, Español counselors, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, business coaches, and image enhancement coaches who provide counseling for emotional, mental, physical and spiritual care including marriage, individual, family, substance abuse and more. TLC’s family, trauma and marriage experts have been interviewed on National and Local TV/Radio over 200 times for their expert advice on Fox News, OWN, WETV, ABC’s Medical Minute and more. Our skilled counselors are relational, approachable and specialists providing therapy services in the Central Florida area including: OrlandoWinter ParkMetroWest, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, East OrlandoLake Mary, and Clermont, Boca Raton Florida, and Dallas, TX.

About the Author: Jim West

Adolescent Expert, Jim West offers expert advice to Local and National TV News & Schools Internationally and provides phone or face-to-face counseling in the Orlando area. Jim is an Author, Communicator, School Consultant, Nationally Certified and State Licensed Counselor and specializes in counseling for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). Jim has been interviewed for multiple TV, Radio, magazine and newspaper articles. He is president of Total Life Counseling Center and his Total Life approach accelerates the therapeutic & healing process by relating to children, adolescents and adults and incorporating wellness. Jim’s clients travel from all over Florida, England, Georgia, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas as he has been able to treat clients with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Depression and more with FDA approved supplements and Dietary Modifications. 85% of his clients have not needed medication or used less medication than when they first came to Total Life Counseling Center.

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author avatar
Jim West
Adolescent Expert, Jim West offers expert advice to Local and National TV News & Schools Internationally and provides phone or face-to-face counseling in the Orlando area. Jim is an Author, Communicator, School Consultant, Nationally Certified and State Licensed Counselor and specializes in counseling for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). Jim has been interviewed for multiple TV, Radio, magazine and newspaper articles. He is president of Total Life Counseling Center and his Total Life approach accelerates the therapeutic & healing process by relating to children, adolescents and adults and incorporating wellness. Jim’s clients travel from all over Florida, England, Georgia, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas as he has been able to treat clients with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Depression and more with FDA approved supplements and Dietary Modifications. 85% of his clients have not needed medication or used less medication than when they first came to Total Life Counseling Center.