Heading back to school can bring out some big emotions?and that?s OK. We asked Deanne Simms, a Toronto-based registered clinical and health psychologist who?s also a mom of two, to answer parents? questions about the worries their kids are facing this September.
My son is worried that none of his friends will be in his class. How can I reassure him that he?ll be OK" 
This is a pretty common fear?it?s fear of the unknown. It?s important to listen and talk to him about it, empathize with the emotions he?s feeling and help him to name his worries. Acknowledge that it?s normal.
It can also help to share times when you felt the same way. Be transparent. ?It was really hard for me to go back to my office because I haven?t been there in 18 months. I was worried about where my desk would be and who my colleagues would be. So here?s what I did: I took some calming breaths, I reminded myself that I can only control the controllable, and I talked to my friend on my way to work and they really made me feel better.? Then, in any way possible, balance that with any helpful information you do have (for example, class sizes or teachers). My daughter was bullied last year and she?s nervous that it will happen again. What can I do" 
With bullying, there can be a tendency for kids to retreat, withdraw or hide, so make sure you?re having lots of talks about how she?s doing. She should know that you have an open-door policy and that anytime she feels unsafe or uncertain, she can tal...