As the summer draws to a close, school feels like a distant memory to many children. Many focus on the unknown like their teachers, new children and curriculum. This can result in feelings of panic, anxiety and overwhelm.

True, there are many new things that they must face but for most there is also much that remains the same like old friends and school routine. Parents can help them to remember these things.

Friends are the most important part of the school experience for many children. Getting together with old friends is a great way to ease them back in. If the school is new, try and find a way to contact a fellow student and arrange a meeting prior to day one. This works particularly well with younger children.

Validate your child’s feelings because this is hands down the best way to deal with your child’s anxiety. Reflect back to them in a non-judgmental way what they are saying to you.  Starting something new provokes some degree of anxiety in all of us and letting them know that we understand will do wonders. If your child is obviously anxious but is clamming up, share your own experiences from childhood or make a best guess at what they are feeling.  You will know soon enough if you have missed the mark. If you get it right, most often children will affirm your assessment of the situation and may even add to it.

Try not to evaluate or problem-solve before you have allowed your child lots of time to simply be with their feelings. This alone greatly increases your child’s ability to cope with their anxiety.

Anxiety in children has many faces including silence, tearfulness, anger, change in appetite and acting out. Investigate the feeling behind the behavior by asking lots of questions and by playing the guessing game.

Spend lots of time hugging, kissing and cuddling. This does not make separation more difficult. When your child feels loved, they walk more bravely into the world.

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Marsha Jacobson is author of "Boom... Boom... Boom...: A Story to Raise Your Child's Emotional Intelligence". She is a regular contributor of mychildfeels.com and you can visit her website at marshajacobson.com.