The backpacks are bought, the school supply lists are checked off, and yet many Murfreesboro parents are noticing something else this time of year: stomachaches before drop-off, tears over breakfast, or a teenager who suddenly won’t discuss their new schedule. If this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it. Back-to-school anxiety is one of the most common concerns I hear about in my therapy office every August.

Why This Time of Year Hits So Hard

A new school year means new teachers, new classmates, new routines, and for many kids, a completely new building. Change is hard for adults; it’s even harder for a developing brain that hasn’t yet built up a large bank of “I’ve done hard things before and survived” experiences. Kids moving through a transition year, such as starting kindergarten, entering middle school, or stepping into high school for the first time, are especially vulnerable to school transition anxiety, because they’re navigating unfamiliar social dynamics on top of academic pressure.

Signs of Anxiety in Children to Watch For

Not every child says “I’m anxious.” More often, it shows up as:

• Physical complaints like stomachaches, headaches, or trouble sleeping, especially on Sunday nights or school mornings
• Increased irritability or meltdowns over small things
• Avoidance, procrastination, or begging to stay home (school refusal)
• Regression in younger children (clinginess, separation anxiety, school behaviors)
• Withdrawal or short answers in older kids and teens
• Perfectionism or intense worry about grades, friendships, or “fitting in”

The Elementary-to-Middle-to-High School Transition

Each transition point brings its own flavor of stress. The elementary-to-middle school transition often centers on losing the security of one classroom and teacher, and navigating lockers, class changes, and a bigger social pond. The middle-to-high school transition tends to bring more academic pressure, identity questions, and social comparison, which are now amplified by social media. Even kids who seemed confident last spring can surprise parents with new worries once the first bell actually rings.

How You Can Help at Home

1. Name it without dismissing it. Saying “That does sound stressful” goes further than “You’ll be fine.”
2. Rebuild routines early. Consistent sleep and morning routines lower the nervous system’s baseline stress.
3. Practice the unknown. A drive by the new school, a look at the schedule, or a walk-through of the building can shrink anxiety around the unfamiliar.
4. Watch, don’t just wait. Mild first-week nerves are normal. Anxiety that lasts several weeks, worsens, or disrupts daily functioning is worth a closer look.
5. Model calm, not certainty. Kids borrow their parents’ nervous system. You don’t have to have all the answers — you just have to stay steady.

Would Therapy Be a Smart Move?

If your child’s anxiety is leading to frequent school refusal, physical symptoms most mornings, panic before drop-off, or a noticeable shift in mood or personality that isn’t improving after a few weeks, it may be time to bring in extra support. A licensed therapist can help your child build coping skills, process what’s really underneath the worry, and help your family navigate the transition together, whether that’s a first-time kindergartner, a nervous middle schooler, or a teen quietly struggling more than they’re letting on.

And extra support doesn’t always mean therapy for your child. Sometimes the most helpful step is a session for Mom and Dad. Together, we can talk through what depression and anxiety actually look like in kids at different ages, so you know what you’re watching for. From there, I can equip you with strategies and techniques you can use at home again and again, giving your child the steady support they need to work through these moments if they continue to occur through the school year.

You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone

As an LMFT working with families right here in Murfreesboro, I help kids, teens, and parents work through school-related anxiety, transitions, and the family stress that often comes with it. If your child is struggling as this school year begins, reach out to schedule a consultation. A little support now can make the whole year easier.