What Can I Do If My Child Has Anxiety About Going Into a New Grade?
By Julie Diamond, OCT
This post will take 3 minutes to read. For specific strategies to help your child manage academic anxiety such as implementing a structured routine, teaching time management, etc., check out this blog ‘How Do You Help Your Child Manage Academic Anxiety?’
It’s normal for kids to feel nervous before starting a new grade. A new teacher and new routines can feel overwhelming, especially if your child has struggled with school anxiety in the past. But with preparation, support, and encouragement, your child can build confidence and walk into their new grade feeling ready to shine.
Here’s how you can help:
Recognize the Signs of Anxiety
Back-to-school anxiety doesn’t always look like fear. It can show up as:
Trouble sleeping or frequent stomachaches
Irritability or meltdowns when discussing school
Reluctance to talk about school or avoidance behaviours
Constant reassurance-seeking from you
By noticing these signs early, you can respond with calm, supportive strategies before the first day arrives.
2. Validate Their Feelings
It’s tempting to say, “You’ll be fine,” but this can feel dismissive to a genuinely worried child.
Instead:
Let them know it’s completely normal to feel nervous before something new.
Use phrases like, “It sounds like you’re feeling worried about what it will be like. That’s okay because I’m here to help you prepare.”
Share your own stories about being nervous before starting something new and how you got through it.
3. Provide Predictability
Anxiety thrives on the unknown, so adding predictability helps:
Visit the school playground or walk by the building if possible.
Look at photos of the school online or review the school’s website for any updates about the upcoming year.
Talk through what a typical school day might look like.
Many schools offer the option to visit the school in the week or two before classes begin. This can help your child familiarize themselves with the layout of the school and, if possible, meet their teacher, secretary, and principal before the first day. These small connections can help your child feel more comfortable and know who to look for if they need help.
Create a visual schedule at home for the first week of school to reduce surprises.
4. Build Skills and Confidence
Part of back-to-school anxiety can come from fear of not being ready academically or socially. You can help by:
Reviewing key skills like reading or math in low-pressure, playful ways (board games, cooking, math scavenger hunts).
Role-playing social scenarios, like asking to join a game or talking to a new teacher.
Teaching simple calming strategies: deep breathing, grounding techniques (name 5 things you see, 4 things you hear), and positive self-talk phrases like, “I can handle this.”
5. Establish Routines Early
Getting back into a school schedule helps reduce morning stress:
Start adjusting bedtimes and wake-up times 1-2 weeks before school starts.
Practice getting ready in the morning, packing lunches, and organizing school bags.
Use visual checklists to help your child feel more independent and prepared.
6. Focus on Strengths and Excitement
While validating worries, also encourage excitement:
Talk about what they enjoy about school (friends, art, gym, recess).
Remind them of past challenges they overcame, like moving up from last year.
Plan something special for the first day to make it a day to look forward to. Make their favourite breakfast, leave a note in their lunch, or have a small after-school treat ready for them.
7. Know When to Seek Additional Support
If your child’s anxiety:
Is severe and interferes with daily activities
Includes ongoing sleep issues, meltdowns, or school refusal
Lasts for several weeks after school starts
…then it may be time to consult your family doctor, a child psychologist, or a school counsellor for additional support.
A bit of anxiety before a new grade is normal, but with understanding and preparation, your child can build the confidence they need to step into their new grade with pride. Keep the conversation open, celebrate small steps, and remind your child that they don’t have to be fearless to be brave.
At Diamond Teachers Group, we believe that academic confidence goes hand-in-hand with emotional well-being. If you feel your child would benefit from gentle, personalized support before or during the school year, our team of certified teachers is here to help your child build skills and confidence to shine bright.