The first time my son got a failing grade on a math test, I flipped out.

“What do you mean you got a 1? How is it even possible to get a 1? I know you studied for the test. Your Dad reviewed the whole chapter with you,” I kept saying.

My 7^th grader replied helplessly: “I don’t know, Mom. I got most of the answers right, but the teacher gave me a failing grade because I didn’t show my work.” And then, a bit more confidently, “What’s the big deal anyway? It’s just one test.”

I had to take a deep breath and count to 10 to avoid saying something I would later regret.

My son’s words went against everything I believed about the importance of school.

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“Bedtime!” we trill.

Tonight, my husband and I hope that, for once, our children will say, “Okay!” and dutifully tromp up the stairs for pajamas, tooth brushing, and lights out.

Wouldn’t that be magical?

But let’s not kid ourselves, that is just not going to happen most of the time. And when they resist, and we respond with “because I said so,” or “you have to go to bed,” what we are doing is asserting our power over them. I am bigger, older, and more powerful than you so you have to do what I say. That can feel disrespectful to the child and invites resistance.

Cue: “I don’t wanna go to bed!!”

We need to look at it from their point of view. Our children have little to no control over much of their daily lives.

We wake them up for school or daycare. We tell them to get dressed and go to the bathroom. At school they are told where to be, when to be there, and what to think about. Then at home we tell them to practice an instrument or sport. And then we tell them what to eat!

Telling them when to go to bed can be the last straw. That is why most power struggles revolve around their physical self or body.

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“It’s not fair!”

All day yesterday I listened to my 9 year-old son tell me that my decision to have him stay home and not play with his friends was completely unfair.

There were too many chores that needed doing, and, besides, he’d been at school all week and had barely interacted with his little sister in days. I wanted to give my daughter the quality time with her older brother she’d been craving since Monday.

“But, it’s not fair!” he cried then. “I didn’t get to play with them all week!”

“And it’s not fair to your sister,” I explained. “She hasn’t gotten to play with you all week. She loves you and wants to spend time with you. And she wants to feel like her big brother wants to spend time with her, too. So, do that for me today and you can see your friends tomorrow.”

He sucked up his frustration – albeit with some final grumbling – and feigned having fun playing with his sister. Soon enough, he didn’t need to pretend anymore. He was legitimately having a good time.

Yet, it was inevitable that he’d remind me today of the deal we’d struck yesterday. Just as it was inevitable that the unfairness baton would be passed to my daughter, who would turn her focus inward and complain about the wrong she perceived being done to her.

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“I’m sure I never had homework at that age,” my husband mutters under his breath after I tell my son I expect him to add more details to his paragraph.

I give my husband ‘the look’ and he returns to buttering his toast.

After much cajoling and persuasion, my son finally completes his writing assignment and I send him out to play.

Hands on my hips, I turn to my husband, “What kind of message are you sending to our son when you complain about homework in front of him?”

“An eight-year-old should be out playing,” my husband argues.

“I agree,” I say, “but he also needs to know that school comes first.”

He returns to buttering his toast.

Variations of this conversation have played out many times in our house since my son first started school.

As a former elementary school teacher I know how important it is to have high expectations for children. Children will not automatically choose to practice piano or do their homework over playing Minecraft (at least mine won’t).

I know a bit of pushing of is required, but how can we do this effectively and not turn our children off to learning completely? And how do we get them to achieve without pushing them up from behind?

How can I be supportive without being a Tiger Mom – that mom that drives kids to the brink searching for perfection?

Faced with my own questions about Tiger Moms, I turned to Amy Chua’s memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.

My first reaction was guilt. Maybe I should be pushing my children more? Will they fall behind their counterparts from around the world if I don’t make them work harder?

Then, I had a flashback of competing in a piano competition when I was 12-years-old. Feelings of inadequacy flooded back when I remembered 9-year-old children performing pieces that required far more dexterity than I had at 12.

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For some kids, heading back to school is something to look forward to – the excitement of seeing their friends again, the anticipation of playing on sports teams, and the intrigue of meeting the new teacher. These kids are planning their first-day-of-school outfits and chattering about resuming favorite recess activities.

For some of the other children, the thought of the new school year on the horizon brings not eager enthusiasm but anxiety. And for anxious little ones who are just starting school, the anxiety is even worse: what to expect?

Most kids though will likely feel a little bit of both – excitement on one day, anxiety the next.

How do we help our kids in that second and third category get over the dread of heading back to school? 

Creative activities are a great way to help relieve feelings of stress. Below you will find arts and crafts that are specifically geared towards helping kids get over their back-to-school anxiety. Whether you have a little one just starting school or an older kid returning to school, we’ve got you covered. 

Here take a look –

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