How Employers & Leaders can Address Back to School Anxieties

I cannot believe that it is already the second week of September. Here in the northern hemisphere, many of you parents have children who are already back in school, or they will be very soon. This is the third time our kiddos are heading back to school since the onset of the global pandemic. According to Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), ‘Headed Back to School: A Look at the Ongoing Effects of COVID-19 on Children’s Health and Well-Being,’ “Schools are expected to return in-person this fall, with most experts now agreeing the benefits of in-person learning outweigh the risks of contracting COVID-19 for children.” You can read the full KFF article here.

That being said, many parents and children will continue to face lingering pandemic-related anxieties and challenges coupled with the usual back to school stress. These economic, health and social issues will impact households and children across the board, and at every age. It’s imperative that employers and leaders build awareness and empathy not only for our children, but also for other parents, our employees, and their children. I speak from personal experience as well, as my two boys are adjusting right now to the new school routine and reality of school with ever-changing mask policies. Pandemic-fatigued parents like us are trying to juggle working, high inflation costs, their children’s fears and the many unknows that seem to pop up on a daily basis. Employer and leader support are crucial to the mental health and wellbeing of working parents and their children.

In this September article, I examine the anxieties and challenges that both children and parents are facing this back-to-school season, and why the continuing presence of COVID-19 is exacerbating many of these challenges. Whether you have children or grandchildren, all employers and leaders must understand and support employees who are juggling all these complexities. I share below some tips and tools you can implement to provide the support working parents desperately need during this critical time.

Four Ways Employers Can Provide Support to Working Parents

As a full-time working parent, I am empathetic to how difficult it is to juggle work and parenting responsibilities. Add in a global pandemic, and that takes it to a whole new level. It is crucial during this extra stressful back-to-school time that employers and leaders provide support to help ease the burden and stressors many parents are feeling. According to Forbes, ‘4 Ways Companies Can Support Working Parents Juggling Back To School (During COVID-19, Again!),’ “A recent report from the American Psychological Association noted that 73% of U.S. adults feel overwhelmed by the number of crises facing the world right now.”? Listed below are four ways the article lists to provide tangible support in areas employees need it most right now. You can read the complete article by clicking here.

1. Provide 1:1 or group coaching.?The Maven 2022 report found employees’ most requested area of support was around starting a new family or adding family members.
2. Create space for community and education among working parents.?This could look like a sponsored workshop to focus on how to manage the mental load that comes with a return to school. While a difficult transition at any time, a structured support group is especially valuable now.
3. Acknowledge the need for back-to-school flexibility.?During the weeks surrounding back to school, offer added flexibility for working parents. Ongoing, provide hybrid and remote options that allow parents to navigate responsibilities more easily like sick children, doctor appointments and gaps in childcare coverage.
4. Remind employees of care benefits.?Use a company newsletter or create a support section on an internal company portal to collect and share ways that employees can source and find care, back-up care, on-site care or online support for education.

How Parents Can Cope with Back to School Anxiety

Personally speaking, the back-to-school season can be a stressful time in our household, especially during the past three years given the pandemic, and all of the unpredictable routines that have come along with it. According to Dr. Duffy, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and author of?Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety, "The fears that parents experience are multiplying at the beginning of every school year.” As a family we have worked together to find coping strategies to help ease our stressors, and build resilience during this time. They are similar to the tips and tools Parents offers in their recent article ‘Parents Can Have Back-to-School Anxiety Too—Here's How to?Cope.’ Click here to read the article in its entirety. Try implementing some of the tips below to see if they help you and your family cope.

1. Focus on the positive – Find something positive to focus on. Perhaps your child is enrolled in a new activity or sport.
2. Find a support system – Find other parents that have the same concerns and come together as a united front to discuss them.
3. Do something about your worries – Get involved! Knowledge is power. Talk to your child’s schoolboard or their teacher.
4. Maintain open communication with your child – Ensure you and your child have open dialogue and safe space.
5. Take steps to reduce your stress – I have found meditation and mindfulness help. Do an online yoga class together as a family.
6. Seek help from a professional – If you need to, put your own oxygen mask on first by seeking professional help from a licensed therapist.

How Can Leaders Address Children’s Mental Health & Back to School Anxiety?

Our children are our future! It is imperative that we address students’ mental health and wellbeing. What can we do as leaders to help them in their emotional development? How can we provide support and increase their resiliency? For many children the pandemic took an immense toll on their wellbeing, and continues to do so. Couple that with the usual back-to-school anxieties and you can imagine what our children are going through. Think about ways in which you can mentor a child or connect them to extra support. According to American Psychological Association, ‘Children’s mental health is in crisis: As pandemic stressors continue, kids’ mental health needs to be addressed in schools,’ “While federal funding has provided schools with money to support students’ well-being, psychologists have been seeking additional long-term solutions to address the mental health problems revealed and exacerbated by the pandemic, from building mental health into school curricula to training teachers in prevention strategies to support students based on psychological science.”

The American Psychological Association 2022 trend report is a wealth of knowledge. The report highlights crucial acts, bills, findings and surveys. See how schools are taking action, and addressing mental health across the nation in the map below. You can read the full report here.

In an era where uncertainty reigns supreme, let’s work together to address back-to-school anxieties and challenges for parents and children alike. Mental health and wellbeing are crucial to the success of a new school year. As a parent or as a leader, consider mentoring a child. As an employer, implement policies and programs that support working parents. I wish each of you compassion, resiliency and strength as you embark on this new school year.

Erin Owen, MBA, PCC, JCDC/JCTC, CPQC

Executive and Leadership Coach

Website:?https://erinowen.com

LinkedIn:?https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/erinowen/