As students are set to return to classrooms tomorrow, both kids and parents are preparing to deal with some new changes.

Some of these changes can be confusing - new teachers, new classmates, and, of course, new rules surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Envision center's family support coordinator Elizabeth Lambe says that kids can have a myriad of stressors as they move into a new school year.

"There's a lot of stressors that children face. as they're going back into the school year, there are plenty of things  - covid is playing a huge part in mental health challenges with many people right now, and unknowns and worries and conversations that the kids are hearing at home about masking and not masking and safety at school."

"Other challenges that kids might be experiencing some anxiety or worries over is that what is their new class going to be like, will they have any friends, will anyone talk to them, are they going to be able to find where they need to go," said Lambe, "All of those types of things that as parents we tend to think they're not really a big deal, those are just as big to children as us worrying about not being able to pay a mortgage or worrying about a family member."

Lambe says that there are plenty of ways to help children who are returning to school.

"Kids don't have the ability to regulate their emotions and to understand them as adults do. So as we're going back to school, the biggest recommendation I would give to most families is to take the time to slow down, try to have your bedtime started early enough that it's not a frustrating time for parents when by the end of the night we're all worn out. If we begin things earlier and we take the time to go slow, answer questions, and not rush overall all of our mental health will be better."

"The other thing is to get the kids excited about school, to talk to them about the fun and interesting things they're going to be able to do, and then also talk to them about their fears and their worries. Really validate for your children how they are feeling and let them know that you understand, and that you hear them, and that you're there to support them and talk them through these types of things," said Lambe, "That is really the biggest recommendation I have for a lot of families is to support your kids and let them know that you hear their worries and that your worries are very valid for them."