Starting secondary school can be an anxious time

SECONDARY school can be an anxious time for young students as they leave the familiar surrounds of national school. Starting secondary school brings younger kids into contact with older students and unfamiliar teachers, all of which can affect kids in different ways. Some will thrive, while others will take time to blend in and feel comfortable. It’s okay for parents to expect a brief period of anxiety in children commencing secondary school. But while it’s all part of the everyday aspect of getting on in life, there are some simple ways to avoid and alleviate the onset of school related anxiety for children.

Stay active: By keeping kids active and encouraging them to regularly take exercise is another great way of reducing the onset of that ‘early school days’ stress. You will help them to produce a more natural tiredness which helps to de-stress and absorb any anxiety encountered during the school day. Exercising will also help your child to fall into a more natural sleep at night and this is important as it prevents them from lying awake and overthinking the day’s happenings at school.

Get involved in sports: This is a great piece of advice. Sport is not for everyone, but it’s less the type of sport that’s important then the interaction it creates. Whether it’s rugby, soccer, football, or table tennis – it matters not as it’s a great way of forming new friendships during those early school days.

School sports helps kids to develop their interaction and co-operative skills, while learning to win and lose together is a process that will ensure lifelong friends and help your child overcome the distractions that come with starting a new school.