Supporting Your Child's Return To School After Summer Holidays

Hello, wonderful parents!

As the summer holidays wind down and the new school year looms, you might notice your children becoming a bit unsettled. Don't worry – this is completely normal! Today, let's chat about why returning to school can be challenging for our children and how we can support them through this transition.

First things first: it's important to remember that our kids are facing quite a few changes all at once. Think about it:

• New classroom, possibly a new teacher
• Shifting friendship dynamics
• Return to early morning routines
• Playtime schedules to navigate
• Fresh academic expectations and workloads

Phew! That's a lot for anyone to handle, let alone as a child. Remember how you felt starting a new job or moving to a new area? It's a similar feeling for our children.

During this period, you might notice more "emotional visitors" – those big feelings that can lead to outbursts or moodiness. Your child might seem fine at school but then let it all out once they're in the safety of home. This is actually a good sign – it means they feel secure enough with you to express their true feelings.

So, what can we do to help? The key is to create a calm, consistent environment at home. Be that safe harbour where your child can anchor themselves amidst all the changes. This might mean:

• Being extra patient and understanding
• Offering plenty of cuddles and reassurance
• Creating quiet time or active time for them to decompress after school
• Maintaining a consistent routine at home

Remember, parents, this is a challenging time for you too! It's okay to feel overwhelmed. The most important thing is to try to stay regulated yourself – your calm can help calm your child. Much easier said than done.

In our next post, we'll dive into some practical strategies to support your child during this transition. Until then, take a deep breath and remind yourself: you've got this, and you're doing a fantastic job!

Stay tuned, and remember – you're not alone in this journey. We're all in this together!

Like this? Why don't you come and find lots of resources and support in the Learnful Family. We meet once a month online to share practices, tips and a have a chat about parent self-regulation.

I'd love to see you there,

Jo :-)