Taking a break from school during the holidays is wonderful but returning can be difficult for children with anxiety disorders.

The escape from a school routine can temporarily relieve anxiety. Most people think that being surrounded by family, and all the typically cheer surrounding the holidays, would distract children from their anxieties. That’s true for many children, but what people without anxiety disorders may not fully appreciate is that the anxiety is still there. It may be hidden away briefly while gifts are being exchanged, but it’s still there. I think that if people realize this, they can help children plan ahead for the dreaded return to school and all the anxiety that builds up inside a child anticipating this eventuality.

When I was dealing with anxiety during holiday breaks as a child, I would try to stay in my routine during the break and do some school work. Some children will resist, but routines can be comforting to children and help prepare them for the eventual transition back to school. Most people would think the opposite true and that taking the child out of their routine would take their minds off of their anxieties. The trouble with that approach is that ignoring the causes for the anxiety, like the daily school grind, can make it much more difficult when it’s time to go back. Staying in a routine, like doing a little school work each day during the break, can make the transition back a lot easier.