Moldovan parents urged to ease back-to-school anxiety as classes resume
Moldovan parents should prioritize patience and emotional adaptation rather than academic pressure as children return to classrooms on Sept. 1, psychologist Lilia Dubița said Monday in an interview with public broadcaster Radio Moldova.
The transition to earlier morning routines and unfamiliar school environments frequently triggers anxiety, particularly for pupils entering a classroom for the first time, Dubița noted. While preparing children two weeks in advance offers the smoothest adjustment, many families begin the shift only on the first day of school.
“I understand that many parents will only start doing this on September 1,” Dubița said. “My advice to parents is not to get irritated or rush their children, but to recognize that the initial week will be challenging if adjustments begin only now.”
Normalizing First-Week Emotions
Transitional anxiety is entirely normal and mirrors the stress adults experience when joining a new workplace without knowing colleagues or operational procedures, the psychologist explained. Feelings of uncertainty are particularly pronounced for first-graders, pupils advancing to lower secondary school, and incoming university students.
Persistent agitation or prolonged refusal to complete homework and attend classes, however, warrants attention. Dubița recommended consulting school teachers or an educational psychologist if these warning signs endure beyond the initial weeks.
“I advise parents against telling children that school is solely about obligations, restrictions, and becoming an adult,” Dubița said. “Younger children cannot relate to abstract long-term goals.”
Focusing on Communication and Homework Support
For primary school pupils, parents should establish short-term goals centered on social integration and peer communication. Reviewing daily achievements during evening conversations helps children process their experiences and build confidence.
Parents should also provide balanced assistance with schoolwork without demanding flawless execution or forcing children to rewrite assignments from scratch.
*“Parents should not say: ‘Rewrite this sentence’ or ‘Tear out the page and start over,’” Dubița said. “Our role is simply to ensure that assignments are completed. This reinforces both the teacher’s authority and the child’s personal accountability.”
The Moldovan academic year commences on Sept. 1. This year’s inaugural thematic lesson across the country is titled “Independence that Unites Us,” commemorating 35 years since the nation declared its independence.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
