Back-to-school anxiety is hitting children hard, coach says

A child coach in Prague says many children carry back-to-school anxiety that parents miss, even as parents focus on supplies and schedules. The message: the biggest challenge is often emotional, and kids may need direct questions and patient listening instead of quick reassurance.

Why it matters: - Back-to-school season is one of the most emotionally difficult transitions of the year for many children. - Anxiety can affect school adjustment, confidence and family stress at the same time. - The issue matters because children often do not ask for help even when they are struggling.

What happened: - Lucie Strakova, a child and teen coach and founder of kidscoach.cz, shared what she sees each September after more than 20 years working with children and young adults ages 3 to 22. - Strakova says parents often focus on organization while children are managing fears about belonging, being forgotten or not being good enough. - The release says Strakova works internationally and speaks English. - Strakova is available for interviews and expert commentary on children's transition anxiety and the back-to-school season.

The details: - A Harris Poll conducted for Understood.org found 87% of parents report stress or anxiety about back-to-school season. - The National Institute of Mental Health says 31.9% of adolescents ages 13 to 18 experience anxiety disorders. - The release says a recent survey found 64% of children's worries are school-related. - Fewer than one in five children actively seek help when they are struggling, according to the release. - Anxiety has surpassed depression as the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition in children, with 16.1% formally diagnosed with an anxiety-related disorder. - Clinical psychologists say anxiety peaks during transition years, including entering school for the first time, moving to secondary school or starting at a new school. - Research shows children typically need six to eight weeks to adapt to a new environment. - Strakova says back-to-school anxiety is often treated as a one-week problem, but for many children it does not settle quickly. - She says quiet behavior is not the same as being fine. - Strakova advises parents to ask what their child is most afraid of, not what the child is excited about. - She says parents should name the fear before trying to reassure it away. - Strakova says children need someone to sit with the worry long enough to take it seriously. - kidscoach.cz provides one-to-one coaching for children, teenagers and young adults ages 3 to 22. - The practice works with families navigating transitions, anxiety, confidence and development. - Sessions are available online worldwide and in person in Prague, Czech Republic. - More information is available on Lucie Strakova's LinkedIn profile.

Between the lines: - The release frames back-to-school anxiety as an emotional issue that can be missed when adults only look for visible signs of distress. - The contrast between parent preparation and child fear suggests practical routines alone may not address the deeper transition stress. - The emphasis on listening before reassuring points to a broader shift toward validation over quick problem-solving.

What's next: - Parents heading into the school year may use Strakova's approach by opening conversations around fear, not just excitement. - Families dealing with longer adjustment periods may need support beyond the first week of school. - Strakova says she is available for interviews and commentary on children's transition anxiety.

The bottom line: - Many children are struggling silently as school starts, and the fastest help may be asking the right question and staying with the answer.