Overcoming School Anxiety : How to Help Your Child Deal With Separation, Tests, Homework, Bullies, Math Phobia, and Other Worries

Every year, more than 68 million students of every age find themselves worrying endlessly about that first day of school, even before it begins. Their hearts race, their stomachs turn and their palms sweat just thinking about getting on the school bus for the first time, that first surprise quiz, or that notoriously strict teacher. For parents of these children, nothing can be more upsetting than dropping their kids off on the first day of school, wondering how they will cope. Now, they can stop worrying and start helping. As a seasoned psychotherapist, Diane Peters Mayer has successfully treated hundreds of elementary and high school students suffering from this common and serious problem. In "Overcoming School Anxiety", she shows parents how to deal with a wide variety of concerns from the fear of leaving home and refusal to go to school, to bullying and school violence and the fear of speaking up in class. Mayers also offers easy-to-learn exercises and techniques, including breathing and relaxation exercises for children of all ages, focusing techniques, and tips on proper diet and exercise that help relieve stress. Filled with real-life examples as well as proven advice for working with teachers, principals and counselors, this is the only comprehensive guide that will enable every parent to help their child cope, build confidence and succeed in school. Contents......Page 10 Foreword......Page 16 Preface......Page 18 Acknowledgments......Page 20 How to Use the Overcoming School Anxiety Program......Page 22 CHAPTER 1 What Is School Anxiety?......Page 24 CHAPTER 2 Anxiety Is a Mind-Body Experience......Page 33 CHAPTER 3 Help! My Child Won’t Go to School......Page 43 CHAPTER 4 My Child Can’t Stop Worrying......Page 54 CHAPTER 5 My Child Panics and Avoids Situations......Page 65 CHAPTER 6 My Child Fears People, Places, and Things......Page 78 CHAPTER 7 My Child Has Homework Anxiety......Page 90 CHAPTER 8 My Child Has Test Anxiety......Page 100 CHAPTER 9 My Child Is a Perfectionist......Page 111 CHAPTER 10 Building Your Child’s Self-Esteem......Page 123 CHAPTER 11 My Child Is Being Bullied......Page 135 CHAPTER 12 Parental and Family Conflict and Issues......Page 146 CHAPTER 13 My Child Has Learning, Physical, or Emotional Challenges......Page 158 CHAPTER 14 Learn to Breathe to Feel at Ease......Page 170 CHAPTER 15 ‘‘Be Present’’ for School Success......Page 182 CHAPTER 16 Learning to Let Go and Flow......Page 192 CHAPTER 17 Eat Right to Feel Right......Page 203 CHAPTER 18 Getting Physical with Your Child......Page 214 CHAPTER 19 What Are Traditional Medical Treatments for Children?......Page 224 CHAPTER 20 What Are Alternative Treatments for Children?......Page 234 Wrap-Up......Page 244 Resources......Page 246 B......Page 248 C......Page 249 F......Page 250 L......Page 251 P......Page 252 S......Page 253 T......Page 254 Z......Page 255 About the Author......Page 256 Every year, more than 68 million students of every age find themselves worrying excessively about their first day of school, even before it begins. Their hearts race, their stomachs turn, and their palms sweat just thinking about getting on the school bus for the first time, that first pop quiz, or that notoriously strict teacher. For parents of these children, nothing can be more upsetting than dropping their kids off on the first day of school, wondering how they will cope. Now, they can stop worrying and start helping. As a seasoned psychotherapist, Diane Peters Mayer has successfully treated hundreds of elementary school students suffering from this common disorder. In Overcoming School Anxiety, she shows parents how to deal with a wide variety of problems, from test and homework anxiety, to bullying, and fear of speaking up in class. Mayer also offers easy-to-learn techniques for children including breathing and relaxation exercises, focusing techniques, and tips on proper diet and exercise that help relieve stress. Filled with real-life examples as well as proven advice for working with teachers, principals, and counselors, this is the only comprehensive guide that will enable every parent to help a child cope, build confidence, and succeed in school. School should be rewarding, not terrifying. This unique guide shows parents how to make their child's learning experience a positive one. Every year, more than 68 million students of every age find themselves worrying excessively about their first day of school, even before it begins. Their hearts race, their stomachs turn, and their palms sweat just thinking about getting on the school bus for the first time, that first pop quiz, or that notoriously strict teacher. For parents of these children, nothing can be more upsetting than dropping their kids off on the first day of school, wondering how they will cope. Now, they can stop worrying and start helping. As a seasoned psychotherapist, Diane Peters Mayer has successfully treated hundreds of elementary school students suffering from this common disorder. In Overcoming School Anxiety, she shows parents how to deal with a wide variety of problems, from test and homework anxiety, to bullying, and fear of speaking up in class. Mayer also offers easy-to-learn techniques for children including breathing and relaxation exercises, focusing techniques, and tips on proper diet and exercise that help relieve stress. - Publisher What is school anxiety? Anxiety is a mind-body experience Help! my child won't go to school My child can't stop worrying My child panics and avoids situations My child fears people, places, and things My child has homework anxiety My child has test anxiety My child is a perfectionist Building your child's self-esteem My child is being bullied Parental and family conflict and issues My child has learning, physical, and emotional challenges Learn to breathe to feel at ease Be present for school success Learning to let go and flow Eat right to feel right. Shows parents how to deal with concerns including the fear of leaving home and refusal to go to school. This book offers exercises and techniques, including breathing exercises, focusing techniques, and tips that help relieve stress. It contains real-life examples and advice for working with teachers, principals and counselors.