Back to School Nerves? Draw Them Out
Back to school nerves are common. Drawing helps kids express worries, picture a good first day and feel ready. Try these back-to-school drawing ideas.
Drawing helps kids with back-to-school nerves by giving them a way to express worries and picture a good first day. Drawing their new classroom, their worries as friendly monsters, and "my best day at school" helps them feel prepared and in control.
The start of a school year brings excitement and anxiety. New teachers, new classmates and new routines can be a lot. Drawing helps kids process it.
Drawing worries
- Worry monsters. Draw each worry as a small, silly monster.
- Questions page. Draw a big question mark and fill it with questions.
- Feelings faces. How do you feel about school starting?
Cute monsters for nervous kids
How to Draw: Cute Cartoon Monsters features friendly monsters that are perfect for drawing worries. Turning a worry into a cute monster makes it smaller and easier to talk about.
Picture a good day
- My best first day. Draw the first day going really well.
- New classroom. Draw what you think it will look like.
- New friend. Draw a friend you might meet.
- Lunchbox. Draw your dream school lunch.
First-day drawings
- Draw a self-portrait on the first day; draw another on the last day of school. Compare.
- Draw your teacher after the first week.
Talk about it
Use drawings to start conversations. "Tell me about your worry monster. What would help him feel better?" For more, see can drawing calm an anxious child?.
Questions parents ask
How can I help my child with back-to-school anxiety?
Talk about it, visit the school if possible, keep routines and try activities like drawing worries and picturing a good first day.
What can kids draw before school starts?
Their new classroom, worry monsters, a good first day and a first-day self-portrait.
Is it normal for kids to be nervous about school?
Yes. Many children feel nervous before school starts, and it usually eases as routines settle.
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