Back-to-School Anxiety: How Play Therapy Can Help Children Feel More Confident

The start of a new school year is exciting—but for many children, it can also feel overwhelming.

New teachers. New classmates. New routines. Bigger expectations.

While it's normal for children to experience some first-day jitters, ongoing anxiety can make school feel stressful instead of exciting. Some children may struggle to explain what they're feeling, while others show their worries through tears, stomachaches, meltdowns, or refusing to go to school.