The most important back-to-school preparation isn't found in the school supply aisle. Back-to-school season is full of good intentions. We buy new backpacks, sharpen pencils, organize supplies, and color-code calendars. We promise ourselves that this year will be different.

When a child is anxious, most adults instinctively move into problem-solving mode. The urge is to fix it, reduce it, or protect the child from the discomfort. That instinct makes sense, and it comes from care! At the same time, anxiety rarely responds well to being rushed or pushed away. In many cases, the more pressure there is to make it stop, the more it tends to hold on.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges, adapt to adversity, and keep moving forward despite setbacks. As parents or caretakers, we often want to “fix” problems for our kids. It can be so tempting to see a problem and solve it for the ones we love.

It comes so naturally to us, and especially to parents to use the phrases “You are fine,” or “You are okay,” when comforting children.

The school year is coming to an end and students are gearing up for summer camps, vacations, playing outside, and hanging out with friends