Helping Your Child Navigate Back-to-School Worries

Does your child get anxious or upset when it’s time to go back to school? You’re not alone. Many children and teenagers feel nervous about returning after the holidays, and as a parent, it can be worrying to see them struggle. The good news is there are simple things you can do to support your child at home - and if needed, therapy can offer extra help.

Why Going Back to School Can Be Difficult

Children and adolescents often feel worried about the start of term. You may notice your child experiencing:

• Friendship worries: Stress about reconnecting with friends, fitting in, or handling peer conflicts.
• Separation anxiety: Younger children in particular may find it hard to be apart from you.
• Academic pressure: Teens and older children may feel anxious about homework, tests, or meeting expectations.
• Fitting in and identity: Adolescents often worry about acceptance and “finding their place” at school.

These worries can sometimes show up in physical or emotional ways, such as tummy aches, irritability, mood swings, sleep difficulties, or outright refusal to go to school.

Knowing that these reactions are common is the first step in helping your child through them.

How You Can Support Your Child

As a parent, your support makes a huge difference. Here are some practical steps you can take:

• Talk and listen: Let your child share their feelings. Listen calmly and let them know their worries are valid.
• Create stability: Re-establish bedtime, morning, and mealtime routines so your child knows what to expect.
• Take small steps: If your child feels very anxious, try practice runs—like walking the route to school together or arranging a short playdate with a classmate.
• Encourage healthy coping: Exercise, creative activities, and relaxation techniques (like slow breathing) can help your child manage stress.
• Celebrate progress: Praise small steps your child takes, no matter how little. Your encouragement will boost their confidence.

Even small, consistent actions can help your child feel more settled and secure about school.

 

When to Consider Extra Support

Sometimes back-to-school anxiety doesn’t fade on its own. You may want to seek extra support if your child shows:

• Ongoing anxiety that interferes with daily life
• Refusal to go to school despite reassurance
• Big changes in mood, sleep, or behaviour
• Frequent headaches, stomach aches, or other physical symptoms without a clear cause

If these signs sound familiar, it may be time to reach out for professional support - either by talking with your child’s school or considering therapy.

How Therapy Can Support Your Child

Therapy can provide your child with a safe, supportive space to explore their worries and build coping skills. Some of the ways it can help include:

• Emotional support: Helping your child make sense of their feelings and worries.
• Practical tools: Teaching strategies for anxiety management, relaxation, and problem-solving.
• Support for you as a parent: Offering guidance so you feel confident in helping your child at home.
• Building resilience: Supporting your child to grow in confidence and develop emotional skills that will help them beyond school challenges.

With the right support, your child can feel calmer, more confident, and better equipped to manage school life.

Final Thoughts

Back-to-school worries are common, but with your support, your child can learn to handle this transition. If your child’s anxiety feels overwhelming, therapy can provide the extra help they need to feel secure and thrive at school.

If you’d like to explore how therapy could support your child, contact me here https://therapywithhannah.co.uk/#contact-form
to arrange a free 15-minute consultation!