Start early to ease the transition back to school by:

• listening to any worries or anxieties and reassure your child
• helping them reconnect with their social circles
• planning for consistency

Introducing a new routine early

It may be helpful to start introducing a new routine to help your children with bedtimes and waking up times. If you have older children, you may be met with some resistance, but explaining to them why it is important to help their body clock adjust now will be helpful. If you have young children, you can use a visual aid to help them understand. Try to build a little structure back into their day that is reflective of school times, such as a set lunchtime, play etc. It may help to walk past their school so they can start seeing this becoming a part of their day.

Reconnecting with their social bubbles

It is natural for the children to feel a level of anxiety about going back to school and they will need lots of reassurance and for you to listen to their worries. It may help them to reconnect with their friends via video chat or a socially distanced meet up at the park. If they start to see their friends, they may not feel as anxious about going back.

Revisit the work they have been doing

It may help to revisit the work they have been doing. Helping them getting back into school mode through the work or projects they have working on may help them adjust too.

Listen and reassure

Encourage an open and honest conversation and listen to their worries. Give them many hugs and let them know that you are there for them. If they struggle to talk, ask them to write down how they are feeling or if they are younger, they can draw how they are feeling.

The day before school

Plan a special day on the day before they go back to school to help them take their minds off going back. Maybe a picnic, a walk in the woods or at your local park. This will help them feel more grounded and relaxed, as they will be having an early night. Ask them to help you plan their lunches and breakfast for their first day so they feel involved. Help them pack their bags and prepare their uniforms.

Recharging through down time

Although the transition back to school may be difficult or challenging, it is an ongoing process. Build in lots of down time using relaxation and recharging. Whether this be through play, games or social networking (for older kids), allow them the time to re-energise.