Back to the Classroom: A Game Plan for Reducing Anxiety

Back-to-school supplies were a bit different this year for the Smith family in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.

Along with their usual assortment of pencils and notebooks, they tucked face masks and hand sanitizer into their backpacks as they prepared for their first day of school.

This year, Marleigh, 11, started sixth grade, while younger sister McKenna, 9, began fourth grade. Like many others across the country, the Smith girls spent most of the last school year in a virtual classroom interacting with other students and teachers only over a computer screen.

Though remote learning had its own challenges, going back to in-person learning with potential restrictions added a new level of anxiety for the family. “It’s just a different environment when there’s a pandemic, so that makes me nervous,” shared Kirsten Smith, Marleigh and McKenna’s mother.

“As students prepare to return, they will be facing a host of intensified challenges,” said Anthious Boone, an elementary school principal in Pennsylvania. He cited mask-wearing and learning how to socialize again with peers as some of these challenges.

But parents can help prepare their children for what may be a tough transition.

“As parents endeavor to help their children cope with potential back-to-school anxiety,” Boone said, “it is absolutely imperative that they stay well-connected with both the school and their children.”

Zachary and Kirsten Smith use practice sessions to help their daughters adjust to being back at school and prepare for stressful situations, such as peer pressure. “Sometimes we roleplay with our parents—they’re the kids asking us the questions and we’re the ones answering,” shared McKenna.

“You don’t always know what someone’s going to say if something comes up. But when we prepare, it’s easier to answer them,” added Marleigh.

While coronavirus variants have stoked pandemic anxieties, this open and regular communication has helped the Smiths not to overlook other challenges their children may face. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, they also look for practical Bible-based advice to help with any issues or concerns.

“Take the time as a parent to sit with your kids and make sure that they’re doing OK,” advised Kirsten. “JW.ORG is a wonderful resource to aid you through those conversations.”

JW.ORG is the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses that is free to all. Topics like “What’s a Real Friend?” and “Beat a Bully Without Using Your Fists” are addressed there in a video series for young people.

“The videos are nice for us as parents because you don’t have to think of it all off the top of your head,” said Kirsten. “I appreciate the videos so much. They’re really helpful.”

Besides the practice sessions with her parents, Marleigh uses the section of the website designed for teens to learn techniques to deal with peer pressure. “I feel like a lot of kids my age don’t know how to deal with certain situations, so they just say, ‘OK, fine, I’ll do it,’” she explained. “JW.ORG helps me know what to do and have the strength to say no or just walk away.”

The Smith family recommends jw.org to everyone and hopes others will enjoy using it as much as they have. “We’ve found it to be a good reference for our family,” said Zachary. “You don’t have to be a Jehovah’s Witness to benefit from the information that’s on there.”