Back to School: Mental Wellness

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Back to School: Mental Wellness

August 5, 2022

The curtains are closing on summer and it’s that time of year again: Back to school. This time can evoke pleasant feelings of excitement and nostalgia for students, while also eliciting anxiety and other worries. Going into the school year with fit mental space – and maintaining that health all year long – starts here.

Ready to help your child master mental wellness? Join us in implementing the habits below – let’s see how big a difference these little changes will make!

Establish a Consistent Routine

Ideally, you’ll want to establish a consistent and sustainable daily routine at least two weeks before the school year begins. This period of leeway allows both you and your child to ease into the new routine so by the time that first day of school comes, you’re both primed for a manageable morning.

Pro Tip: Children and teens often require up to nine hours of sleep per night. Consider this when planning your new routine.

Open the Door to Conversation

Transitioning back into school can raise a number of anxieties for your child, ranging from Covid concerns to bullying. Ensuring your child feels encouraged to share their worries with you in a safe space is essential to their emotional wellbeing.

Pro Tip: Try the “rose and thorn” method of talking about your days. Ask your child what their rose was (the best part of their day) and what their thorn was (the worst part of their day). Offer positive affirmations for their rose and empathetic support for their thorn.

Keep Physical Health in Mind

Physical and mental wellness are closely tied. Diet, sleep, and exercise all affect chemicals in our brains and bodies that regulate stress and relaxation. Ensuring your child is eating a balanced diet, is sleeping up to 9 hours to sleep per night, and is engaging in the recommended amount of exercise for their age are all essential components to building a foundation for peak mental health.

Pro Tip: Let your child pick out the healthy foods they want to eat. Kids are more likely to eat what they pick out themselves.

Know the Signs of Bullying

In 2022, bullying is more complex than ever before. Students have a vast avenue of platforms on which to bully their peers, including locations in-person and online. Keep in mind that while a younger child may feel best opening up in a formal setting like at the dinner table, a teenager might lean towards chatting in a casual setting, like in the car or while lounging on the couch.

Pro Tip: Make sure you have contact information for your child’s teacher and counselor. This makes taking swift action easier.