16 Ways to Prep For School Separation Anxiety

For parents of young kids, back to school often goes hand in hand with cries of "Mommy, don't go!" Whether your child's heading to school for the very first time, or returning after a summer of days at home, there are bound to be a few growing pains. Here are 15 tips from experts on how to prepare for the big day -- and make things easier for all of you.

If this is the first time your child will be away from you, do some practice separation. Arrange for her to spend a few hours at a grandparent or friend's house, and gradually build up to a whole day away. Mira Jacob, Yahoo! Shine's parenting editor, says, "You both need to know you'll be okay without each other."

If your child isn't prone to clinging, don't plant worry seeds. You'll just create stress when there isn't any, according to Elizabeth Pantley, author of No-Cry Solutions for Preschool and School-Age Children. On the other hand, if you think he'll have a hard time, do have a few upbeat conversations to explain what's happening. Anxiety stems from the unknown, so the key is to find a balance between telling them what they need to know without overdoing it.

To let your child know what to expect, have her pretend to be the parent while you act as the child. Go through all the motions of the first day of school: waking you up, getting you dressed, feeding you breakfast, dropping you off -- and finally, picking you up. "Just this little bit of planning and creativity can avoid a whole bunch of stress and anxiety," says Lori Lite, founder of Stress Free Kids and mother of 3.

Similar to a countdown-to-Christmas calendar, make a chart that counts down the days until school starts. It'll prompt you to organize the household and will help your child visualize the time frame. Try these quick-and-easy printable calendar templates or this reusable tile version for something that'll last a bit longer.

See if you can find one or two other kids that will be in your child's class and set up a playdate before school starts. It'll give you a chance to get to know some fellow parents and will help acclimate your little one to his new surroundings. If your child starts fretting about preschool, remind him that he will see his friends there.

Most teachers send a list of school supplies a few weeks prior to the start of the year. Even if you already have the items on hand, make a special trip to the store to pick up one or two things -- and make it a fun excursion for both of you. Let her pick out her own crayons, pencils or notebooks and put them in a special spot for the big day.

A lot of kids find themselves with a later bedtime during the long and sunny summer months. Gradually get them back on schedule, moving up their bedtime by 15-30 minutes every few days. This way, when Labor Day rolls around, their internal body clocks will already be adjusted.

Shannon Choe, founder of Premier Baby Concierge, says that fictional characters have a way of making difficult situations easy since they always have a happy ending. The stories can give your child a natural opportunity to share any fears, and often have key kid-friendly phrases that parents can re-use to reassure their children. Here's a few to choose from: I Love You All Day Long, The Kissing Hand, Go Home, Mrs. Beekman and The Night Before Kindergarten.

Find out if you can visit the classroom with your child the week before school starts. Show them where you'll be doing drop-off, where their cubby or desk will be, and let them walk around to get familiar with the space.