Overcoming School Anxiety: How to Help Your Child Deal with Separation, Tests, Homework, Bullies, Math Phobia, and Other Worries DIANE PETERS MAYER AMACOM Advance praise for Overcoming School Anxiety ‘‘ Overcoming School Anxiety is empowering for both parent and child. I wish I had had these practical solutions when my son was younger. Anxiety and its causes are defined clearly and made simple to understand. Among the exer- cises given, the breathing exercise is my favorite. It applies in both scholastic and social situations. I can see these techniques even help my son with his anxiety on the pitching mound. I look forward to sharing this insightful and helpful book with friends who struggle with anxiety.’’ —Betty Ann Castaneda, parent, California ‘‘I am a stay-at-home mom of two wonderful daughters, ages 3 and 5. My 5- year-old has already exhibited signs of school anxiety. She is extremely shy and introverted and has a difficult time forming new relationships with her classmates. I am very excited to be reading Overcoming School Anxiety at this time. I feel it will be an important tool that I will use constantly to deal with her issues. I especially like the way the table of contents is written. Easy to skim to find the exact topic I need. The most important concept in the book that will help my daughter is the stress level at home. We constantly procrasti- nate in the mornings and always seem to be scrambling to get out the door. I didn’t realize the effect this had on my daughter’s anxiety (I thought it only made me feel stressed and anxious!). I see this book as an invaluable tool that will stay by my bedside throughout my daughter’s school career.’’ —Lisa Nero, parent, California ‘‘When your child has school anxiety, sometimes, try as you might, you just can’t understand your child’s behavior. And that is very frustrating. Diane Peters Mayer’s clear explanations, perfect examples, and practical steps can change all of that frustration.’’ —Farrell Silverberg, Ph.D., N.C.Psy.A., psychologist, psychoanalyst, and author, Make the Leap: A Practical Guide to Breaking the Patterns That Hold You Back ‘‘This book is an informative, concise, and practical guide to anxiety and many other important issues of today’s youth. It provided me with effective, easy to follow and implement solutions that helped my students. I would strongly recommend it to any teacher or parent as a practical guidebook to better un- derstanding and aiding our youth.’’ —Waldemar Plichta, ME, foreign language teacher, Cedar Crest High School, Lebanon, Pennsylvania ‘‘. . . wonderfully thought provoking and highly interesting and informative.’’ —Ann-Marie Mott, instructor, Bank Street College Graduate School of Edu- cation, former Lower School Coordinator, Bank Street School for Children, New York City ‘‘In her book Overcoming School Anxiety Ms. Mayer describes the differences between developmentally appropriate anxiety and anxiety that may require professional assistance. Parents will feel empowered after reading Ms. Mayer’s book, for she provides guidelines and exercises that help children alleviate anxiety.’’ —Shirley Kraenbring, M.Ed., parent and kindergarten teacher ‘‘Ms. Mayer has compiled a resource that is bound to help both parent and child build emotional and academic success. Not only does it outline easy-to- understand principles, guidelines, and applied techniques tailored to specific problems, it does so in empowering ways that curtail guilt and defeat. A bonus lies in the process where, in a nonthreatening manner, parents may discover insight into their own struggles, which can compound the benefit for their children and family relationships. In a cultural environment driven toward academic achievement, this strength-based model supports doing one’s best while de-emphasizing the pressure to perform. ‘‘I am already implementing these concepts into my practice, and because the book cuts across professional and nonprofessional boundaries, I can rec- ommend it not only to colleagues and clients but to family and friends as well.’’ —Karen Carter Katz, LCSW, BCD, Clinical Social Worker, private practice, Doylestown, Pennsylvania ‘‘ Overcoming School Anxiety is a guide that disentangles the emotional and physical symptoms of school anxiety with accessible definitions and practical exercises. Diane’s breathing variations and body awareness activities will ap- peal to a child’s natural sense of humor and discovery.’’ —Mary Namiotka, LCSW, Pennsylvania Counseling Services, Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania ‘‘A clear, concise, systematic guide for parents to approach a difficult and often insurmountable problem. An excellent resource for schools. A must for staff and parents.’’ —Missy Leinbach, parent and elementary Spanish teacher, Ambler, Pennsyl- vania This page intentionally left blank