As August rolls in, many parents are shopping for supplies, checking bus schedules, and signing up for after-school programs. But there’s one thing families often forget: Is your child mentally and emotionally ready for school?

At Mount Behavioral Health, we help children and teens feel confident, supported, and prepared—not just academically, but emotionally.

📚 Why Back-to-School Is a Stressful Time for Kids

The start of school can trigger big emotions, even if your child doesn’t say it out loud.

Common emotional struggles we see around this time include:

• Anxiety about new classrooms, teachers, or routines
• Sleep disruptions or resistance to going to bed
• Regression in behavior (clinginess, tantrums, irritability)
• Worry about social situations or past peer conflicts
• School refusal or physical symptoms like stomachaches

According to the Child Mind Institute, anxiety often spikes before transitions—especially the return to school.
📘 Read more: https://childmind.org/article/back-to-school-anxiety/

🧠 Signs Your Child May Need Extra Support This Year

Keep an eye out for:

• Frequent “what if” questions about school
• Sudden outbursts or unexplained sadness
• Withdrawal from play, friends, or conversations about school
• Avoidance of shopping for supplies or preparing for the year

If these signs persist for more than two weeks, it might be time to seek support from a licensed mental health professional.

💬 How Therapy Can Help Before School Starts

Starting therapy now—before the school year begins—can help kids:

• Practice calming techniques
• Create predictable routines
• Talk through fears and build confidence
• Strengthen social and problem-solving skills
• Develop coping strategies for change and stress

At Mount Behavioral Health, we offer therapy that's:

✅ Play-based for younger children
✅ Goal-oriented for teens
✅ Collaborative with parents and caregivers
✅ Medicaid and insurance-friendly

🏡 Tips for Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Health at Home

Whether or not your child is in therapy, here are some things you can start doing today:

1. Ease back into routine: Gradually move bedtime earlier, reintroduce morning routines, and structure the day.
2. Talk about school in positive terms: Use calm, confident language. Ask open-ended questions like “What are you curious about this year?”
3. Create a calm-down corner or routine: A sensory kit, breathing exercises, or journaling time can help.
4. Set expectations and visuals: A daily checklist can make transitions smoother.
5. Check in regularly: Make space for your child to talk about their worries—even small ones.

📘 Bonus resource: https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/back-to-school-mental-health.html

🏫 Mount Behavioral Health: Back-to-School Support That Makes a Difference

We understand that each child is different. That’s why we offer:

• 🧒 Therapy for ages 3–18
• 💬 Multilingual clinicians
• 🖥️ Virtual and in-person appointments
• 🏥 Medicaid & major insurances accepted
• 🚀 Same-week intake and scheduling available

We work with parents, schools, and support teams to create real, lasting change for your child.

📞 Book Now to Get Ahead of Back-to-School Stress

Don’t wait until the first day of school to get support.

📞 Call Mount Behavioral Health at 718-400-0545
🌐 Visit us at www.mountbh.org
🗓️ Limited August appointments available

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