Each week we will be sharing a tip from our school psychologist, Mrs. Rollins.

This week we are talking about – Valentine’s Day Anxiety

Valentine’s Day in elementary school is typically a fun holiday where kids share cards and treats and learn to be kind and inclusive. If your child has anxiety in general, Valentine’s Day could be a trigger. They could worry about not receiving positive feedback from their peers and teachers or just feeling lonely or unappreciated.

Here’s how you can alleviate their anxiety:

1. Listen to their concerns: The reason behind anxiety could be something you expect like not receiving a Valentine from a friend or something totally different like they want to have the coolest box in class. Ask them about it and listen without passing judgment or trying to solve it right away.
2. Normalize feelings: Let them know they are not the only person that feels this way and that what they are feeling is ok. It could be really helpful to validate their feelings by saying, “It sounds like you’re feeling…” Even if you guess the wrong emotion that they might be feeling, their desire to correct you will help the conversation keep going.
3. Help with information: One of the best ways to alleviate anxiety is to talk back to negative thoughts with facts. Talk to your child’s teacher about how Valentine’s Day will run and what their policies are in their class or at school for handing out Valentines. This can help with the first two ideas by providing context when you are talking to your child.
4. Spend some time with just them: If you know your child is struggling around Valentine’s Day maybe do a special activity with them to help them know they are loved and cared for in your home. You can have Valentine’s theme or it could be totally unrelated.

I hope these help you to have a fun Valentine’s Day with your family!

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