What Parents Need to Know About School Anxiety

School anxiety has become increasingly common for children of all ages. For some children, it may show up occasionally. For others, it can significantly impact attendance, learning, and emotional wellbeing.

School Anxiety Is Real

Children with school anxiety are not usually being “lazy” or “dramatic.” Many experience very real emotional and physical distress.

Symptoms may include:

• Morning stomachaches or nausea

• Tearfulness before school

• Trouble sleeping

• Frequent nurse visits

• Refusal behaviors

• Panic symptoms

• Emotional shutdown after school

  
  

Common Causes of School Anxiety

School anxiety can stem from many factors, including:

• Academic pressure

• Social worries

• Perfectionism

• Learning challenges

• Bullying experiences

• Sensory overwhelm

• Separation anxiety

• Fear of failure

Sometimes children themselves cannot fully explain why school feels difficult.

How Parents Can Help

Supportive strategies include:

• Maintaining calm and consistent routines

• Avoiding long lectures during stressful moments

• Collaborating with school staff

• Focusing on emotional safety first

• Praising effort over perfection

• Breaking overwhelming tasks into smaller steps

  
  

When Additional Support May Help

If anxiety is interfering with attendance, learning, friendships, or daily functioning, additional support may be beneficial.

Therapy can help children develop coping skills, emotional regulation strategies, and confidence while also supporting parents through the process.

Children do best when they feel understood, supported, and not alone in what they are experiencing.