As students return to classrooms, mental health experts say many children are carrying concerns beyond academics, including family financial pressure, immigration fears, and extreme heat. Parents can help by creating stability, communication, and support at home.
For most families, preparing for a new school year includes purchasing school supplies, adjusting sleep schedules, and completing enrollment paperwork. This year, however, many parents are also preparing children for a broader set of concerns that extend beyond the classroom.
Mental health professionals in Los Angeles say they are seeing families ask how to talk with children about issues that have become part of daily life for many households, including immigration enforcement, economic hardship, and prolonged periods of extreme heat.
These concerns do not affect every family in the same way. But psychologists say that when children experience chronic stress—whether directly or through the anxiety of the adults around them—it can influence their emotional well-being, attention, and readiness to learn.
“The goal is not to eliminate uncertainty,” mental health experts say. “It is to help children understand that they have support at home and at school.”
Immigration concerns
For some families, immigration has become one of the most difficult topics to discuss before the start of the school year.
Children may hear conversations at home, on social media, or in their communities about immigration enforcement. Experts recommend that parents answer questions honestly, using language appropriate for the child’s age, while avoiding speculation or assurances that cannot be guaranteed.
Instead, psychologists encourage parents to focus on what children can expect each day, identify trusted adults at school, and maintain routines that provide consistency.
Educators say schools can play an important role by ensuring students know where to seek support if they feel anxious or overwhelmed during the school day.
Financial pressures
Economic conditions remain another source of stress for many households.
The costs of school supplies, clothing, transportation, food, and housing continue to affect family budgets. While parents often try to shield children from financial concerns, psychologists note that children frequently recognize when adults are under stress.
Experts advise parents to avoid placing children in the middle of financial discussions or decisions. Instead, they recommend reassuring children that managing household finances is an adult responsibility while maintaining regular family routines whenever possible.
Heat and student well-being
Extreme heat has also become a consideration as students return to school.
Pediatricians note that prolonged high temperatures can affect sleep, hydration, concentration, and mood. Children participating in outdoor activities or athletics may require additional precautions, particularly during periods of excessive heat.
Parents are encouraged to monitor hydration, establish consistent sleep schedules before school begins, and review any heat-related guidance issued by their school district.
The role of schools
The Los Angeles Unified School District has expanded access to school-based mental health services in recent years. Students may receive support from counselors, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and wellness centers, depending on their campus. The district also operates a Student and Family Wellness Resource Line that connects families with counseling and community resources.
Mental health professionals say parents should contact their school if a child demonstrates persistent anxiety, avoids attending school, experiences significant changes in sleep or appetite, or develops frequent physical complaints such as headaches or stomachaches without an apparent medical cause.
Looking ahead
Experts emphasize that some anxiety is a normal part of returning to school. Their concern is not with temporary nervousness but with prolonged stress that interferes with a child’s ability to learn, socialize, or participate in daily activities.
They recommend that parents maintain open communication, establish predictable routines, and remind children that they can seek help from trusted adults both at home and at school.
As the school year begins, educators say academic success depends not only on classroom instruction but also on ensuring students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.
