5 Mental Health ‘To Dos’ Parents Need to Add to Their Back-To-School Checklist

As a parent of two, I live by a checklist during the back-to-school season. One, because I enjoy checking items off the list, and two, because I know in order to make my children feel secure in the new academic year I need to ensure they have the tools to prevail with confidence. To successfully do this, there are some key items not related to school supplies or bus routes that parents should consider including on their annual checklist.  If you are like me, every year you make sure your children get their “back to school sports physical.” This is a necessity and is probably at the top of your to-do list — but have you given much thought to your child’s mental health and it’s prevalence during the back-to-school season? Back-to-school is a time when many parents become increasingly concerned about cyberbullying, suicidality, self-harm, and substance use. Whether you’re preparing for your first back-to-school season or sending your child off to college, here are the five items I recommend adding to your back-to-school checklist in regards to mental health:  1. Get to know the early signs of distress. Back-to-school time is a season of change, and it’s important to understand that each child handles it differently. Even with plenty of preparation and support, some children can struggle with transitioning into a new grade, school, sports team, or even friend group. Parents can help their children manage this stressful period by monitoring for any cha...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Bullying Children and Teens College Communication Parenting Students Success & Achievement Back To School Source Type: blogs