Tips To Manage Anxiety And Fears This School Year

The new school year is upon us and with it, anxiety and fears, typical of new beginnings but this year is more so because of all the school changes last year due to the pandemic. Enter, Latina psychotherapist friend and mom, Lina Acosta Sandaal to save the day! Or the year, really!

In an effort to help parents and kids ease into yet another school year filled with changes, Lina and I chatted in Spanish about ways that both parents and children can look ahead with a positive attitude and tools to navigate.

I invite you to watch our IGTV ¡En Español!

Here are Lina’s tips to help kids, especially teens to keep anxiety at bay.

Tips to manage anxiety and fears this school year for parents and children

1. Validate your feelings- understand that all the adults in your life know how hard last year was for you and appreciated how you handle it. Celebrate your efforts. Be proud!
2.  Protect your social time. We all know you need your tribe. Socially but follow restrictions so you don’t get sick or get others sick.
3. Increase your autonomy but follow restrictions
4. Sleep at least 8 hours a day! Meditation and sleep is the exercise of the brain!

For the parents:

1. Take time to thank your teens for the way they have handle the last year. They need to hear validation from parents too.
2. Take care of your body – exercise, walk.
3. Sleep and meditation are important for parents too! Try meditation at least 3 times a day. As easy as taking three deep breaths and watching your surroundings.
4. Be kind to yourself. Validate your feelings and emotions. They are normal. Don’t judge yourselves too harshly!
5. When talking to your kids about the school restrictions, keep in mind child’s age level and spin the news in a positive way. Remind them that all families are different and have different rules.
6. A health lesson to share with the children: Share compassion, share kindness, share patience.
7. For kids 8 and less: invite them to think of social distance games they can play that still helps them to be social: Simon Says, I see something that starts with a letter A and so on, Dance and Freeze.

Lina is the founder of Stop Parenting Alone, a platform that offers parenting support and consultation to help parents be better informed and can enjoy the messiness of parenting.

For more information follow Lina on Instagram @parentingexpert and @stopparentingalone.

Thank you, Lina!