24/08/2026
With school starting again just over a week away I thought I'd put together a few tips for easing the transition.
The first week back can feel like a lot — for them and for you. A few small things can smooth the bumps:
Get ahead of the mornings. Lay out uniform, pack bags, sort shoes the night before. A calm start sets the tone for the whole day. 🌞
Talk it through, don't talk it up. Instead of "it'll be brilliant!", try "what are you looking forward to? Is anything feeling a bit tricky?" It gives worries somewhere to go.
Name the feelings. Nervous, excited and sad can all live in the same little body at once. Letting them know that's completely normal takes the fear out of it.
Protect the wind-down. New routines are tiring. Earlier nights, quieter evenings and a bit less screen time help everyone cope.
Leave room for the after-school slump. They've held it together all day — the meltdown at pick-up isn't bad behaviour, it's relief. Snacks, calm and a bit of quiet work wonders. 🌳
And be gentle with yourself too. If you're finding the transition harder than expected, that's allowed. Make time for yourself 💙
