Top 5 Ways To Ease Back-to-School Anxiety For Children With Dyslexia

While the summer holidays might be around the corner, September and the new school year will be here before you know it. For many children, especially those with dyslexia, returning to the classroom after the summer break can be a daunting prospect. From uncertainty around routines to new teachers, unfamiliar work and worrying about fitting in can all lead to heightened anxiety.

However, taking some small steps today can ensure your loved one is fully prepared and has the emotional support and tools they need to succeed. In this latest article, we take a look at five of the best methods for helping reduce anxiety and give your child the confidence to approach the new school year calmly.

1. Establish a clear and predictable routine

Children with dyslexia often thrive on structure, and establishing a routine well before the first day of school can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Start by gradually reintroducing school-time habits, such as earlier bedtimes, regular wake-up times and structured mealtimes, a couple of weeks before term begins.

This will help your loved one ease into the rhythm of the school day without an abrupt change come September. Creating a visual schedule can also be particularly helpful, allowing children to clearly see what each day will look like.

2. Build a positive mindset through early reinforcement

It’s important to help your child focus on what they can do, not just on the topics and areas that they struggle with. Encourage a positive outlook on learning by regularly highlighting your child’s strengths. For example, perhaps they have a wonderful imagination, a hands-on approach to play or they are excellent at problem-solving. Whatever it might be establishing a daily routine of positive affirmations, such as “I learn in my own unique way,” can help build confidence ahead of the start of the new school year.

You can also inspire your child with stories about successful dyslexic individuals like Richard Branson or Whoopi Goldberg can show that a learning difference does not limit potential.

3. Communicate with teachers and school staff

One of the most effective ways to ease anxiety is to ensure the school is fully prepared to support your child. Before term begins, try to arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to share insights about what works best for your child and specific triggers to avoid. You can also share strategies that have been successful in the past and any tools that your child finds helpful.

You should also use this opportunity to provide a summary or learning profile of your child. This can be incredibly valuable for new teachers. Taking a proactive approach to communication helps to foster understanding and collaboration from the outset, ensuring your child is supported from day one. This will help them to feel seen, heard and most importantly, understood, easing feelings of stress and anxiety.

4. Use multisensory tools

Multisensory learning tools are one of the most powerful strategies for children with dyslexia. Engaging multiple senses such as sight, sound and touch, helps to reinforce memory and understanding across a broad range of topics.

Over the summer holidays and in particular the final few weeks leading up to the new term, gently reintroduce learning in a way that feels engaging rather than stressful. Use tactile games, colourful letter tiles or audio learning tools to revisit key skills. Here at the Dyslexia Shop, we offer a huge range of multisensory teaching aids, including overlays, spelling games and phonics kits that can help your loved one thrive. Additional products, such as reader pens can help your child to capture learning material in a way that suits their strengths.

5. Provide emotional support

It’s vital that you let your child know that it’s okay to feel nervous about going back to school and that it is, in fact, completely normal. Validating your child’s feelings, rather than dismissing them, helps to create a safe emotional space that allows them to fully express themselves in the classroom. You could also use things like emotion charts, colour-coded feeling zones or a basic diary for drawing or writing to help them identify and process their emotions.

If your child is particularly anxious, mindfulness techniques like focused breathing or grounding exercises can be very effective. For example, a simple “5-4-3-2-1” exercise where your child names five things they can see, four they can touch, three they can hear, two they can smell, and one they can taste, can help calm an anxious mind.

Get ready for the new school year today

The new school year can be a very anxious time for all students, but with a little planning and encouragement now, you can help ease those feelings and boost their confidence. At the Dyslexia Shop, we have everything you need to support your child this coming school year, giving them the skills and tools they need to thrive in the classroom.

Want to find out more? Get in touch with our team today to learn more about our range of products and how we can help your child or classroom!