If your child is experiencing back-to-school nerves, you’re not alone. The start of a new school year can bring excitement, worry, and lots of big feelings, especially with new teachers, classrooms, peers and routines. Preparing ahead can help children feel safer, more confident, and ready to learn in their own way.
There are a few key ways you can ease the transition with your child.
Validate feelings
What your child is feeling is perfectly valid — even as adults change can feel uncomfortable. Make sure you recognise your child’s nervousness or excitement, e.g., “It’s normal to feel a bit nervous about a new teacher or classroom.” Model your own experiences to validate them further by sharing a time when you feel these same emotions.
Talk about what’s coming up
Open a safe and clear dialogue with your child. Discuss the new term, new teacher or classroom changes, and any new routines in simple, positive language. Let them explain any specific areas they’re more nervous or apprehensive about. Do your best to ‘de-mystify’ these challenges with a positive spin.
Review school routines
Remind your child of morning, lunchtime, and after-school routines to build predictability. You may want to create a visual schedule or daily plannerHow to Make a Visual Schedule for them to follow before or after school. These are a great tool to stick in their bedroom or in the kitchen.
Discuss social aspects
Often, anxiousness around returning to school is associated with peer group shifts — especially for older children. Explain that your child will have new classmates and that this might change their friendship groups, or group activities. Link back to any stable figures that will remain in their social circle to provide stability.
Practice social strategies
To further reduce these feelings of social anxiety, try role-playing! Mock conversations where your child tries introducing themselves, asking for help, taking turns, and joining games.
Gradually adjust routines if needed
If there will be shifts to key activities your child is used to, as the term approaches, slowly start to adjust their standard routine. This may include adjusting wake-up times, school lunches, and bedtime to fit the school day.
Encourage talking about school
Once they are back in the classroom, continue to talk about these changes. Ask daily about their friends, activities, or challenges to build confidence and emotional awareness.
Collaborate with the teacher
Teachers are there to help your child during the school day! If you’ve been working on strategies at home to reduce your childness nervousness, share what supports your child finds helpful, so the teacher can provide consistency.
Seek extra support if needed
If the back-to-school nerves are turning into deeper anxiety, meltdowns, or sensory overwhelm increase, you may want to seek some support. This can be in or outside the classroom. There are many OT strategies that can support your child with this period of transition and build their confidence or social skills.
At Occupational Therapy Helping Children we are OT experts that can assist your child with back-to-school nerves and other challenges.
Call us on (02) 9913 3823 or email hello@occupationaltherapy.com.au
