The week before school goes back is its own kind of emotional territory.
Excited and nervous, all mixed up together.
Both feelings are allowed.
Both make complete sense.
For children:
When the fluttery countdown feeling arrives, try:
Name it: “I feel excited and nervous. Both feelings are allowed.”
Remember your own history: Think of something that felt scary before it happened - and turned out okay.
Do something familiar and comforting in the final few days - a favourite meal, a familiar film, something that feels like home.
Talk to someone you trust about what you’re looking forward to and what feels worrying - both deserve a conversation.
For grown-ups:
This final week, try:
Naming the mixed feeling rather than resolving it. “It makes sense to feel both excited and nervous.”
Keeping things gentle and familiar - now is not the week for late nights or big new activities.
Preparing practically - uniform ready, bag packed, the morning route confirmed. Small preparations make a big difference.
Replacing over-reassurance with honest steadiness. “Whatever happens, we’ll work it out together” lands better than “you’ll be absolutely fine.”
Naming your own feelings too - children settle more easily when the adults around them are genuinely calm, not just performing calm.
🌱 A grounding moment - try this together on the Sunday evening
Sit together somewhere comfortable.
Take one slow breath each.
Then take it in turns to say:
“Something I’m looking forward to is...”
“Something I’m a little nervous about is...”
“Something I know I can do is...”
Let all of it be there. The excited and the nervous, side by side. 🫶
