August 3, 2024 // by Needham Pediatrics

Behavioral Health Resources for Back to School

The return to school, can bring many different emotions. Some students are excited, some might be nervous. Our practice wants to support a healthy and happy transition back to school. Here are some tips for different ages to help with the transition back to school:

PBS Back to School for Parents
School is back in session! Explore different topics, such as coping with back-to-school anxieties and emotions, creating daily routines, and tackling common situations that arise with the start of school. Ease the transition with some fun lunch box or after school snacks and downtime activities.

CDC Helping Young Children and Parents Transition Back to School
Transitioning back to early childhood programs or school— or starting them for the first time—can create extra challenges, particularly in times of stress. Learn what parents and teachers can do to help children make a successful transition to in-person learning and care.

HealthyChildren.org Back-to-School Tips for Families
Before it's time to head back to school, use these tips to help ensure your child has a safe, healthy and happy year.

Reading, Writing & Resilience: Addressing Back-to-School Anxiety (HealthyChildren.org parent webinar)

College Transition Resources
Leaving high school and entering adulthood is a huge transition for your teen and you. Set to Go is here to support you through it with user-friendly resources that have straightforward steps you can take to support your teen as they transition to adulthood—from basic life skills to big decisions, prioritizing their mental health every step of the way.

Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports for School Refusal 
This brief provides an overview of how to identify and determine why a student may be avoiding or refusing to attend school, and ways that schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) teams can help to assess and address school refusal.

Helpful Books

  • How to Get Your Octopus to School by Becky Scharnhorst - ages 4 - 8 years
    Reminiscent of If You Take a Mouse to School, get your little one ready for school with this silly and sweet back-to-school story. For any parent who has struggled to get their child ready for school in the morning!
  • Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro - ages 3 and up
    Back-to-school book to ease your students’ butterflies. Rosie gets a new backpack and can hardly wait for school to start. But the first morning, she’s not so sure. “You just have butterflies in your belly,” her mom tells her.
  • Executive Functioning Workbook for Kids: A Fun Adventure with Bora the Space Cat by Roy Pan - ages 9-10
    This workbook is a teaching tool for parents with children who cannot sit through mundane workbooks. Working through our original storyline together, your child will learn how to plan and prioritize by helping cute characters with their problems during a fun space adventure.