The doctors said creating routines before school begins can help reduce stress while improving students’ behavioral and academic success. “They will always wash their hands before they eat and that’s really, really important because a lot of kids don’t think about that and of course after using the restroom.” Back-to-school nervesChou said parents should encourage open conversations about emotions and reassure children that nervousness is normal when returning to school. Major school transitionsWhether students are entering kindergarten, middle school or high school, Ratliff said every new stage of school brings unique challenges that can affect emotions and behavior. Ratliff said maintaining regular conversations with children throughout the school year can help parents recognize when something is wrong before a problem becomes more serious.