Back to school: How to help your child ease into the new routine

The school holidays are nearly over, which means earlier mornings, packed bags and getting ready for back to school. For some children, that can also bring nerves, reluctance or a few big feelings. We spoke to psychiatrist Dr Enrica Verrengia about how parents can make the transition easier, from resetting sleep schedules to handling separation anxiety. A post shared by Thrive Wellbeing Centre (@thrivewellbeingcentre) Dr Enrica Verrengia is an Italian-trained Specialist Psychiatrist with more than 10 years of clinical experience, working with adolescents aged 14 and above and adults. Her areas of expertise include adolescent counselling and parental support, alongside anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, sleep disorders and other mental health conditions. 1. What can parents do in the final week before school to make the transition back easier? The final week can be useful to make the transition a little less abrupt. After the holidays, children may have very different sleeping and eating times, so parents can start moving these gradually towards the school routine. There is no need to change everything in one day. Some practical preparation can also help. Children can be involved in choosing or preparing what they need, packing their school bag or deciding what to wear on the first day. For younger children, looking at pictures of the school or passing by the school can make it feel more familiar. I would also leave some free time. The last week does not need to become a full preparation programme for school. Going back is a change and having some time to play, rest or simply do nothing is part of the transition too. 2. For children starting school for the first time, how can parents help ease separation anxiety?