Children’s Home Society of Florida Offers Help for Back to School

Children’s Home Society of Florida Offers Help for Back to School

Children’s Home Society of Florida Offers Help for Back to School – Returning to school after extended time away can be a source of stress and worry for kids, parents and teachers. Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) – a national leader in trauma-informed care including counseling – reports when school starts after summer break, sessions between students and CHS counselors nearly double.

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Children's Home Society of Florida Offers Help for Back to School

What:

Helping ease back-to-school anxiety can be critical for a child’s success in the classroom and at home. Left untreated, anxiety and other mental health challenges can have a significant impact on a student’s classroom behavior, academic performance, and social interactions.

Children’s Home Society of Florida offers tips and warning signs to help parents and caregivers recognize signs of back-to-school anxiety and help children find the support they need:

Some general anxiety symptoms to watch out for include:

  • Feeling nervous, restless or tense
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Sweating or trembling
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Having trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
  • Increased tearfulness or irritability when it is time to go to school
  • School refusal

For many children – especially those with existing mental health and behavioral challenges – adult support and understanding can help.

Six ways to support children include:

  1. Build a routine – stable, daily routines create structure and minimize stress for children and entire families.
  2. Open conversation about anxieties – ask questions and allow the child to express their feelings without judgement. Talking about anxieties can help children cope with and overcome concerns.
  3. Get enough sleep — if there is difficulty falling or staying asleep, explore nighttime rituals to calm before bed including reading together or quiet stretching exercises.
  4. Monitor eating habits and limit junk foods and sugar – replace sugary snacks with healthy fruits, nuts and proteins.
  5. Learn coping and relaxation strategies – deep breathing exercises and spending time outside in nature can help reduce worry and anxieties.
  6. Try not to get frustrated as a parent – Stay positive and remember to take a break when you need it.

Where and When:

August 2022 Back to School

More Details:

When to seek help:

When mental health challenges and anxiety symptoms are significantly affecting daily life negatively — if routines are difficult to follow due to the symptoms or if attempts to support the child are not improving symptoms – it may be a good time to reach out for help.

More Information:

Children’s Home Society of Florida provides counseling in multiple formats including meeting with children and families in homes, in schools, in offices and online via Telehealth. To find help near you, visit chsfl.org/counseling.

Don’t forget to check out the 2022 Florida Kids and Family Expo August 20-21, 2022 at the Orange County Convention Center. Tickets are on sale now! Click here for details.

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