After a full summer of vacations and playtime, it’s time to hit the books again.

While many kids anticipate the first day of school with excitement, for some, that first day can be stressful.

“The uncertainty may be greater if they are entering a school that is new to them, such as kindergarten, or moving from elementary school to middle school,” said Dr. Cindy Smith, a professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Development and Family Science and director of the university’s Children’s Emotions Lab.

“Encouraging children to express emotions can help parents to understand how their children are feeling, and then parents can help children figure out ways to deal with their emotions,” Smith added.

Children returning to school often feel stressed by uncertainties — such as who their

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