Back-to-school blues

Why kids get anxious and what parents can do

- JANE KINGSU-CHENG

Preschool teacher and mom-of-three Gabby Roa-Limjoco knows the back-to-school jitters all too well—not just from the classroom, but from her own household.

As co-founder of Playworks Early Childhood Centers and a family life and child development specialist, she's spent years helping children and their parents ease into the school year with less fear and more confidence.

Spot the signs

Back-to-school anxiety is more common than we think, and it can show up in different ways, depending on the child's age. "For the younger ones, the obvious ones are refusing to get dressed, crying when it's time to get ready, or tantrums at drop-off," she explains.

"Sometimes they're all set to leave, but then suddenly say they need to use the restroom or complain of a tummy ache. They could also suddenly feel unwell."

While younger children might express anxiety through meltdowns or clinginess, older kids tend to show it in more subtle ways. "They might have trouble sleeping, sometimes with nightmares. You might notice sudden irritability, or they become unusually quiet or withdrawn."