Listen to your child's concerns

 

 Listen to your child's concerns

Don't automatically say everything is going to be fine, because it might not be, Jones says."We're very inclined with our children to, when they're upset, we want them to feel better. But when we do that inadvertently with all of the best intentions we really shut down them expressing any worries or concerns they might have," she says.

If they are feeling anxious, help them come up with a plan, even if it's just telling them to take a couple of really deep breaths before going into the classroom. Some children may have some anxiety about starting school and it's really important that mom and dad be there to listen to any concerns that they might have.