After spending six weeks or so focused only on having fun, it can be hard for your child to adjust to going back to school when the new term comes around. They might be excited about seeing friends again. But the thought of knuckling down with school work probably isn’t as appealing! It can also be difficult to get back into a routine. Especially if your child might be apprehensive about having a new teacher and any other changes. To help you support your child with those back to school blues, here’s some advice from an independent school in Kent.

Prepare for the transition

Whether your child is starting a new school or moving up a year in their current school, preparing thoroughly for the change will help ease any anxiety they feel. It’s likely they’ll have met their new teacher and familiarized themselves with their new environment before the break. But it might also help to practise the school run if it’s a new school they’re going to. Start preparing for their new routine at least a week before school restarts by encouraging your child to go to bed and get up earlier so they have some time to get used to it.

Make it exciting

Take your child shopping for a new backpack, lunch box, drink bottle and stationery to make the idea of going back to school more exciting. Choosing their own items will give them a feeling of control and self-agency, which might boost their confidence. They’ll also look forward to using them at school, which helps frame the idea of returning as something positive.

Keep communicating

Talk to your child regularly about going back in the run up to the new term and ask how they’re feeling. Explain that it’s normal to feel anxious after being away for a long time and their worries are valid. They might find it helpful to have some strategies they can use for calming anxiety, such as deep breathing or meditating. Empathise with your child’s feelings and give an example of a time when you too felt scared of starting a new job or moving to a new school so they see that those kinds of feelings are normal and everyone has them.

Seek support

If your child’s anxiety about the new term seems like more than the back to school blues, it’s important to seek support from the school and possibly a health professional to get on top of it as quickly as possible. They might need additional support with their mental health.

The main thing children need to overcome anxieties around resuming school is plenty of encouragement and reassurance.