As summer draws to a close, many children eagerly anticipate the start of a new school year. Yet for others, the transition can trigger significant anxiety, with a recent survey revealing that 64% of children's worries are school-related. The shift from lazy summer days to structured routines, academic pressures, and social challenges can overwhelm young minds.
Robert Alexander, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and wellness at New York Institute of Technology, explains that anxiety stems from the brain's role as a prediction machine. “Our nervous systems constantly try to anticipate what will happen next, so that we can respond appropriately and stay safe,” he says. “The beginning of a new school year disrupts many of those predictions all at once—old routines are broken, expectations and environments change, children are presented with new classrooms, teachers, classmates, and other daily adjustments.”
While some nervousness is developmentally normal, children prone to anxiety may find the return especially challenging. Alexander advises parents to recognize signs that may not be obvious. “Children often express anxiety indirectly,” he notes, pointing to changes in sleep, irritability, difficulty concentrating, appetite changes, clinginess, or social withdrawal.
To reduce anxiety, preparation is key. “Preparation helps make things more predictable and allows us to adapt to changes,” Alexander says. He suggests visiting the school, discussing routines, and gradually re-establishing bedtimes before classes begin. Sleep, he emphasizes, plays a major role in emotional regulation and stress resilience.
Parents also set the emotional tone at home. “Children often look to adults for cues on how they should respond to a situation. Responding with calm confidence can send a powerful message of safety,” Alexander explains. Additionally, children can practice simple calming techniques, such as slow breathing—inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for six—to manage overwhelming feelings in the moment.
However, Alexander cautions against eliminating all anxiety. “Confidence grows through small wins,” he says. “When children successfully introduce themselves to a new friend, find their new classroom, or survive their first week at a new school, they learn that they are capable in those environments.” He adds that children prone to anxiety may need extra support to move through these feelings successfully.
This guidance comes as many families prepare for the upcoming school year. Alexander is one of many New York Tech faculty members applying their expertise to real-world challenges. For more information, visit nyit.edu.
