The start of the school year can be rough on some kids. It’s a big shift from summer’s freedom and lack of structure to the measured routines of school. And sometimes that can build up into tears, losing sleep, outbursts and other classic signs of anxiety.

“Going back to school is a transition for everyone,” says Lynn Bufka, a practicing psychologist who also works at the American Psychological Association. “No matter the age of the child, or if they’ve been to school before.”

In the vast majority of cases, this is pretty standard stuff. It doesn’t mean it’s not painful — for you and your kids.

“If you see that in your kids, don’t panic,” says John Kelly, a school psychologist in Long Island, N.Y. “For most kids, there’s gonna be some level of anxiety.”

And, if you think back on it, you can probably remember feeling that way, too.

We talked to some experts about what parents can do to ease the transition — plus, what to watch out for if there’s a more serious problem.

For further helps:

npr.org/sections/ed/2017/08/28/545393966/how-to-counter-back-to-school-anxiety