It may just be under a month away, but for some kids, the stress of going back to school has already started.

 "I think it's really important to remember that anxiety is normal," explained Anna Johnson, a social worker with Southeast Counseling Services. "And we feel anxiety for a reason. It helps us to prepare for things like study for a test, it helps us do better."

She adds that normalizing it, and sharing times when you were nervous or anxious can help the child to see that it is a natural part of life. 

"Kids don't have those skills yet and we as parents have to help them have those skills about knowing what we're feeling and how do we deal with it so talking with your child about their feelings and sometime those are really big and scary for kids and as parents, we can talk to them, and to verbalize it can really help. And as parents we can help problem solve around that, how to feel better about it."

"Sometimes anxiety in kids can be really physical, and be tummy-aches, and headaches and nausea so that's something important to keep in mind."

While back to school nerves can be a normal part of a child's life, it can reach a point where more help is needed. 

"I think if it's getting in the way of you doing things that you want to do and enjoying your life. If your child is not engaging where they would normally engage, if it's an enormous fight to get out the door every morning, it's always good to have some extra help if you need it and I think the school counsellors are really great for that too. So I think that's a great resource." Another resource she suggested was the Child and Youth Services department of the Mental Health Services.

"It's important to not let anxiety be in control and be the boss. You're still the boss of your life and you're not letting anxiety push you around keep you from doing things you want to do. Nervousness about school is normal."