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Welcome Back to School!

Kristen Dee LICSW

Marisa Botta LICSW

Gabriela Brennet, MA Mental Health Counselor

Heather Hunt MSW, LCSW

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Objectives

What You Might See

Elementary

Somatic Complaints (i.e. headaches, stomach aches)
Difficulty Sleeping
Difficult time paying attention and/or needing a greater amount of attention from adults
Work Avoidance
School Refusal/Resistance
Behavioral Outbursts (i.e. destroying things, throwing things)
Decreased Stamina
Emotional Dysregulation (i.e. crying, withdrawn)

What You Might See

Middle/High School

What You Can Do (General)

Be consistent
Allow time for your child to adapt to school expectations and demands
Normalize their feelings and let them know they can expect some anxiety/uncomfortable feelings
Predictability and Routine
Encourage flexibility, allow for ups and downs, progress is not linear
Transitions are HARD! Expect some resistance and tears

What You Can Do

Elementary

Establish routines (bedtime, morning)
Validate feelings, but ensure they are coming to school every day (do not want to allow for avoidance)
Positive Reinforcement
Be a Role Model
Have your child talk back to their worries (i.e “I’m feeling scared and I can handle it”)
Calm down space
Have a designated area for your child to use when showing big emotions or may need a break
Allow your child to use tools (i.e. calming jar,art supplies, music) that may benefit them in regulating their emotions

What You Can Do

Middle/High School

Practice skills preemptively - teach them distraction techniques/calm down strategies (Headspace/Calm apps)
Validate their feelings but ensure they come to school every day
Give them space to be unhappy/grumpy as transitions are hard
Monitor for any type of substance use
If they are struggling, make sure they know who they can go to in the building
Reminder bridges → “You did a great job when you ____” (see next slide)