Nearly 60% of students were anxious about returning to school after covid according to the Recovery Village. Although the summer break is not as lengthy, many feel uneasy transitioning back to school. The importance of acknowledging this and finding ways to support the child in this transition cannot be overstated.

To help children ease school anxiety and create excitement about the school year ahead, Azaliya Schulz, the author of “Starting a New School Year with Liam, the Smart Rabbit” highlights the importance of helping children to ease in back-to-school anxiety and get them excited about the new school year.

School is an abstract concept.

Pamela Kruger, a journalist who wrote an article in Parent’s magazine in May, 2021 stated that “School is an abstract concept to a kid who’s never been before. The unfamiliar people and routines can be scary for them”. Indeed, a new environment can be anxiety-provoking for children and their parents. Children may worry about who will teach them, what the new rules are, whether they will be able to make friends, and whether they will enjoy their classes. They may also be anxious about learning new things and whether they will manage to cope. As parents and caregivers, we can help our children overcome some anxiety by taking easy steps.

Easy steps to overcome anxiety:

Begin the conversation about attending school weeks in advance by explaining the new routine and the new people they would meet.

• Respond to the child’s concerns, if any, by acknowledging and validating their feelings. Explain that it is totally normal to feel nervous about starting something new and everyone can feel this way.
• Create excitement about the school by explaining what the school about, what subjects will the child be learning and that he/she can make new friends.
• Tour the school, if possible and meet the teacher or at the least take a drive past the school and introduce that this would be “their” new school soon.
• Role play the school experience with your child at home. You can use dolls to teach school routines, such as learning how to write or meeting a new classmate and a teacher for the first time.
• If your child needs you, reassure them that they are safe and that you will see them as soon as school is done.
• Pack a small toy in their backpack that will comfort the child knowing their best friend will also be there.
• Pack a favorite lunch meal or snack items that would give them something to look forward to at recess.

The author, Schulz, has just released a new book devoted to coping with the anxiety associate with starting school. This book aims to help parents and caregivers help the child to cope with fears and the unknown when starting a new school year. Liam, the Smart Rabbit, is uneasy about starting a new school year and has many questions. He wonders who his teacher will be, and if he can take his toy, or if he will be able to understand the material, and if he will be able to make friends. To calm him down, his mother sings him a song about the school and explains what it is all about  https://azaliyaschulz.com/free-downloads/.

As Liam learns more about the school, he becomes excited and eager to learn more. When he arrives at his new school, he meets many friends and realizes that ‘Learning is so cool! It’s what we do every day in the place called school”.

This book is a great resource for parents or caregivers who want to create excitement for their children. “This book covers all aspects of what children feel before attending school, making it an excellent resource for parents, children, and caregivers. A particular highlight of the book is the song, as it adds an element of interaction. Certainly, the story and the rhymes will capture the attention of children and provide them with the motivation and inspiration they need to begin the new school year” — Kerry Watson, Elementary School Teacher.

Schulz is an author of children’s books, has a strong desire to write inspiring children’s books on important topics, that help children to become independent and critical thinkers and create a supportive and loving community.

To know more about Azaliya Schulz as an author as well as details of where to find her book, visit azaliyaschulz.com. This book is available on Amazon.

About the author:

Azaliya is an author, a wife, and a mother to two girls. She is passionate about writing and creating children’s books on meaningful subjects. Through her books, she hopes to inspire children to become independent and critical thinkers, help make better choices, and facilitate a supportive and loving communities. This year she released the series of books, such as Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with Liam, the Smart Rabbit, Calming your Anger with Liam, the Smart Rabbit and Starting the School Year with Liam, the Smart Rabbit and Healthy Eating with Liam, the Smart Rabbit.

Parent’s magazine article Parents

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