How to Survive the Back-to-School Transition, According to a Parenting Expert

"For a kid, starting a new school may feel a little like moving to a new planet. The air smells different, the natives have their own language, and the customs aremysterious. Even for confident kids, transitions can stir up a tangle of excitement, nerves, and please-don't-make-me resistance. And for parents? Well, watching your little one wobble into the unknown can stir up some jitters of your own. Will they make friends? Will they eat lunch? Will they make it to the bathroom?"

"Change is tricky for everyone. Our brains are wired to love routines. They help us feel safe. Starting schoolwhether it's a whole new school or just a new grademesses with that familiar rhythm. Young kids may not be able to say, I'm feeling overwhelmed, but you'll probably pick up on their feelings through their behavior: clinginess, crankiness, sleep regressions, or even potty training setbacks. None of that means they can't cut it at school, but they're feeling a bit stressed, are looking to you to help them find calm."

"Practice to perfect your routine. One of the best antidotes to first-day anxiety? Rehearsal. Take a field trip to the school: play on the playground, walk the halls and meet the teacher in advance, if possible. All of this helps take some of the scariness out of the unknown. It's a good idea to also practice your morning routines and tweak as needed before you're racing to get out the door on the first day of school."

Starting school often produces mixed emotions for children, including excitement, nerves, and resistance. Behavioral signs such as clinginess, crankiness, sleep regressions, and potty setbacks can signal overwhelm rather than inability. Routines provide safety, and disruptions to familiar rhythms increase stress. Rehearsal—visiting the school, playing on the playground, walking the halls, and meeting the teacher—reduces fear of the unknown. Practicing morning routines and tweaking logistics ahead of time prevents chaotic first days. Role-play and subtle modeling help children absorb desired behaviors and feel more prepared and calm when facing transitions.

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