from the FBI search in
Washington. Susan McGinnis,
KPRC, 2 news.
>> Well, it’s back-to-school
time continuing. Not every
student, of course, is excited about going back to what is
about going back to what is
natural for some children have
pre first day jitters. But
sometimes those jitters can be
a sign of a bigger issue.
Houston’s only TV health
reporter Haley Hernandez is with us this morning. A Haley.
with us this morning. A Haley.
This is something to watch for.
Even after the first day of
school. Right?
>> And so, you know,
back-to-school nerves and anxiety, it could be worse than
anxiety, it could be worse than
just a one day ordeal. Some
kids may show behavioral
problems for signs of anxiety.
So here are ways that you can
help.
Walking around the school,
getting comfortable with the campuses. One suggestion from
campuses. One suggestion from
Texas Children’s psychologist
Doctor Katherine Gallagher.
>> She says making the new
school year a gradual change
instead of an abrupt one can
help ease the transition. But since that’s not always
But since that’s not always
possible, she says you can try
easing into the day with an
earlier morning to help prepare
little ones without being
stressed. >> Allowing time to encourage
>> Allowing time to encourage
them to get to school. And then
I think setting the expectation
being kind but consistent.
>> For the older kids, she
recommends good communication. And most importantly, listening
And most importantly, listening
to their concerns and knowing
where their information is
coming from. She says frequent
checking and scrolling online
can trigger or reinforce
anxiety. What are they interpreting from what they’re
interpreting from what they’re
reading because you know, that
can be
>> different based on national.
They’re processing that information and then trying to
information and then trying to
again, look for positive items.
But, you know, takeaways, how
can you both model and
reinforce a sense we don’t
always know the answer to but we’re going to be OK with
we’re going to be OK with
uncertainty.
>> I love when she says that
we’re going to be OK with
uncertainty. They address that
the address, social media all last night, Texas children’s
last night, Texas children’s
held a Facebook live where they
discuss those topics and more
on how to cope with
back-to-school anxiety that
Facebook live was led by their pediatric mental health
pediatric mental health
experts. They talked about, as
I mentioned, social media, they
talked about you’ve all day and
whether or not you should even
be talking to your kids about
that topic. And they also talked about sharing in the
talked about sharing in the
excitement in the small things,
the excitement of new clothes
and new backpacks, a new pens
that can mean a lot to kids
right? So make them happy by
sharing their excitement.
You can go directly to my Facebook page. If you want to
Facebook page. If you want to
watch all of that on that link.
>> Yeah. Take a little deeper
into it. yeah, more.
>> Yeah. They really shared a
lot of a lot of good tips.
Have your kids been nervous about going back to school?
about going back to school?
Know? It’s interesting. I think
my older my oldest daughter
super excited. She started high
school is past year. So they of
he’ll go back Monday. So going
in the 10th grade, you’re getting that experience under
getting that experience under
her belt. I think was, you
know, very good for confidence.
>> And I didn’t even realize
she was in high school. That’s
big. That’s a big
>> You know, you know, even
with my little ones, I have a
one, a 2 year-old, even when
they moved to a different
classroom within their daycare
to I notice about a 2 week
minimum 2 week transition
period. So I know that this can
be hard for some kids and I’m
kind of actually dreading the
grade school years when I’m
like, well, how long is it
going to go on when they’re a
little bit older through time?
They they just get better and better at it. You know, the
better at it. You know, the
kind of depends on the kid to a
growing up. I moved every 5
minutes. So my kids have been
able to remain with some of
their friends through
elementary school. That’s a
different thing. Know, kind of.
>> I guess each kid is
different. The I guess the other question I would maybe,
other question I would maybe,
you know, this answer, maybe
not as how do you know what
it’s like? Okay. First day
jitters vs. Look, this has been
2 weeks, 3 weeks. It’s becoming a problem. You know, when when
a problem. You know, when when
do we know when we need to seek
help? So
>> if your child has disrupted
sleep, they said for for long
periods of time like they really can’t get to If they’re
really can’t get to If they’re
not interested in anything any
of their normal that can be the
same thing as withdrawing
withdrawing from friends and family. If they’re just sad
family. If they’re just sad
if they’re having trouble going
to school. The big question I
think is, you know, as new
generations of parents come up
with, maybe heard these tips
before. But for us, new parents, it’s like, okay.
parents, it’s like, okay.
So what do we do if we notice
those signs? What’s our first
at what do we do?
>> Well, they say that your
first step could be your
pediatrician. And I think what
I’m learning with my own
children is that the pediatrician is there for more
pediatrician is there for more
than just height and weight and
to make sure that you’re
growing on time or on on
schedule. But they have an
enormous amount of resources.
So any questions that you might have just mention it, your
have just mention it, your
pediatrician, see if there’s
somebody more that you can talk
to. There’s tons of free help
out there. Just talk to them
first and they can probably guide you to the right
guide you to the right
resources. Has these great
pediatricians have a unique way
of putting everybody at ease?
I feel like definitely not.
Yeah. My wife and the kids.
>> Right? Yeah. Yeah. They’re dead. They’re definitely there
dead. They’re definitely there
for our mental health as well.
So always start with your
pediatrician. Sometimes your
school counselor can be a good
help school counselors have
all of the community resources. So I would definitely just
So I would definitely just
mention it to them and say,
like we’re really struggling
more than what I think is for
one parent to another. Do your
best just to keep that
communication going with your kids at any age? I mean, you
kids at any age? I mean, you
know, just even even as soon as
they start communicating, he’s
asking
every day.
>> And NASA to fix what
happened in the how was today
at the fun happen. Something
funny happened. Some interesting happened. Get in
interesting happened. Get in
there with see you have all
of the really insightful
questions mail. That’s exactly
what you’re supposed to do
because sometimes they might
not be able to express what they’re feeling. They they just
they’re feeling. They they just
acting out and you don’t really
know why. But to pinpoint it,
ask more open, ended questions.