This is where Kids Help Phone comes in—Canada's only toll-free, bilingual, anonymous counselling and information service for kids and teens.
Dr. Janice Currie, Vice President, Counselling Services at Kids Help Phone, said that at this time of year, counsellors at Kids Help Phone notice an increase in calls and web posts from young people who are concerned about going back to school.
“Many youth find themselves very stressed, anxious, and upset. Whether it's anxiety about new classes, fears of bullying, or the pressures of academic performance, kids can speak with one of our counsellors about their concerns.”
Children who may be feeling fearful, nervous, or lonely when returning to school can talk it over with Kids Help Phone counsellors who will try to “find a solution that meets their needs,” the organization said in a news release.
“Any kind of change can bring forward a lot of different emotions in kids and teens, and having someone to talk to about those feelings is important,” said Currie.
When young people call in, they’re immediately connected with a professional counsellor who can provide “kid-friendly insight,” and direction on a wide variety of issues. The service is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
While parents and guardians can help alleviate back to school anxiety by talking with their children about possible stressors and how to handle them, Currie said there are times when that’s just not enough.
“Talking to parents or friends is a great start, but sometimes kids need to talk to someone who they see as removed from the situation but still really knowledgeable, and that's where Kids Help Phone counsellors can help.”
Kids Help Phone counsellors are available at 1-800-668-6868, or online at www.kidshelpphone.ca.
Meanwhile, with children across the country heading back to school next week, Safe Kids Canada has issued a reminder to parents and drivers “to ensure kids can walk safely to and from school on our neighbourhood streets.”
According to the organization, “child pedestrian incidents” are a leading cause of death for children under the age of 14. Every year more than 30 children are killed and
2,400 are seriously injured.
Most incidents happen between 3 and 6 p.m. when drivers are heading home from work, which is also the time when children may be walking home from school.
“With children back on the streets in large numbers, we all play a role in helping to keep kids safe while they walk in their communities," said Pamela Fuselli, executive director of Safe Kids Canada.
“When drivers slow down, and when parents take every opportunity to teach their children about pedestrian safety, these injuries can be prevented."
The Safe Kids Canada Walk This Way program recommends the following tips for back-to-school safety:
– Teach your child to stop at the curb, look left, right and left again, and to listen for oncoming traffic before crossing the street.
– Children under the age of nine lack the developmental skills to cross the street on their own and should be accompanied by an adult or responsible older children.
– Be a role model by walking with your children to school and demonstrating safe pedestrian practices.
– Drivers need to slow down; the higher the speed, the higher the risk of injury to a child pedestrian.
– Distractions are dangerous—remind your children to put away their cell phones and remove ear buds before crossing the street.