Big changes come with anxiety as Minnesota children prepare to return to the classroom

[KSTP-TV News, September 01, 2021] Many Minnesota schools will ring the first bell next week. But after a pandemic year, students, parents and school staff are facing many changes. Most students are returning to a full-time in-class schedule after a mix of in-person, remote or hybrid learning. 

In a new school year unlike any other — where some Minnesota districts require masks and others do not — experts say those pre-school jitters can be magnified by COVID concerns.

“It definitely is stress. All these things are considered stressors, and we want to be attentive to that,” said Dr. Meghan Miller, a clinical psychologist with Allina Health.

She says this pre-school anxiety is uncharted territory for parents and kids.