The biggest thing parents can do for back-to-school season

As the summer days slowly come to an end, the excitement of a new school year approaches. However, for many students (parents too), this anticipation can be marred by the looming worry of back-to-school stress. 

The pressures of academic performance, social interactions and the uncertainties of the future can lead to overwhelming feelings of anxiety and apprehension for many.

Back-to-school stress is not a mere fleeting sentiment; it is a legitimate concern that can have consequences on a child’s well-being. From elementary to university, children are behind in their academic and social skills because of the COVID pandemic. Students "lost out on about 35% of a normal school year’s worth of learning" when in-person learning stopped, according to research published in Nature Human Behavior.