ARLINGTON, Texas — Summer is winding down, and as families prepare for school and a return to their regularly scheduled programming, parents may be feeling stress and anxiety.

“It’s normal for both parents and students to feel anxious about a new school year,” said Olivia Hopkins, D.M., LCSW-S, director of clinical services at Texas Health Behavioral Health Dallas.

Anxiety can cause feelings of worry, fear or tension. Hopkins said numerous factors come into play: academics, finances, safety, schedules and social interactions.

“Parents often worry about a child not connecting or interacting with other students and not being there to help their child,” Hopkins said.

For some parents, intense nervousness and anxiety about the first day of school can cause physical symptoms.

“Addressing anxiety early is important, because uncontrolled anxiety can lead to panic attacks, headaches, stomachaches and impact sleep,” said Tyler Ingersoll, D.O., a family medicine specialist at Texas Health Family and Sports Care, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice in Justin.

If a parent is having difficulty managing their own stress, it can negatively affect their child’s mood, particularly at the start of a new school year, Ingersoll added.

Here are tips to help parents manage back-to-school anxiety:

• Visit the school and meet the teacher.
• Create a routine. Discuss the plan for school drop-off, pickup, homework and mealtimes.
• Create a safety plan with your child. Laminate cards with important information and keep them in their backpack.
• Practice healthy coping skills, such as deep breathing, journaling or mindfulness, when you or your child feels anxious.

If you are struggling with mental health issues, visit Texas Health Behavioral Health to schedule a free assessment or learn about behavioral health services offered by Texas Health.

*Physicians employed by Texas Health Physicians Group practice independently and are not employees or agents of Texas Health Resources hospitals.