Helpful tips to make a positive start to the new school year

As the school year starts again, it can be difficult for young people to transition back to the academic space after a long break. This may present as emotion dysregulation, anxiety, stress, and difficulty attending school. Here are some tips for parents and children to help make the return to school process smoother and easier for everyone!

1. Set a routine

   Routine is a helpful way to re-establish a sense of security for kids and help ease the change to their holiday routine. As well as making life easier for parents, research shows that the consistency and stability of a predictable daily routine supports children’s social and emotional development and the overall wellbeing of the family unit (Yan et al., 2025).

2. Add fun to your day!

   Incorporating play and fun activities into a child’s day outside of school is a great way for them to relieve stress and help process their emotions. Interactive activities also allow children to practice their social skills and inspire creativity! (Whitebread, 2017)

3. Introduce gratitude practice

Practicing gratitude at home with young people is shown to support school attendance (Waters & Loton, 2019) by:

• Increasing children’s satisfaction with their overall school experience

• Encouraging children to notice positive aspects of school, such as supportive teachers, friendships, or subjects they enjoy

• Providing an easy, low-cost practice that can be integrated into daily routines (e.g., during the commute to school or family meals)

• Offering benefits beyond the child, as gratitude practices can positively influence family relationships and wellbeing. By focusing on simple, supportive strategies such as these, families can help create a calmer and more positive start to the school year. When these small actions are practiced consistently, they can make a meaningful difference over time, supporting children’s emotional wellbeing and helping them feel more confident and ready to engage with school.

If returning to school continues to feel challenging, families don’t have to navigate this alone. We can support students directly with emotional regulation, anxiety, and school attendance concerns, and we can also work alongside parents and carers to help communicate their child’s needs clearly and confidently with schools. This may include supporting conversations with teachers or wellbeing staff, helping families understand reasonable adjustments, and ensuring a shared understanding of what will best support the child at school.

References:

Whitebread, D. (2017). Free play and children’s mental health. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 1(3), 167–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(17)30092-5

Yang, Y., Bulut, S., Bukhori, B., Piskorz-Ryń, O., & Chikwe, C. (2025). The role of family routines in promoting child mental health: A qualitative study. Journal of Research and Health, 15(2), 175–184. https://doi.org/10.32598/JRH.15.2.2474.1

Waters, L., & Loton, D. (2019). SEARCH: A meta-framework and review of the field of positive education. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-019-00017-4