Some children may be worried or anxious about transition and returning to school in September. Below are a wide range of activity ideas, websites and resources that can support your child during this time.

Advice

A parents’ guide to transition made by CISS with LOTS of helpful suggestions and advice for preparing children with the return to school, especially if they are feeling anxious. 

In this short video, a clinical psychologist provides straightforward, important suggestions for parents to deal with any potential apprehension or anxiety children many experience on returning to - https://nipinthebud.org/information-films/tips-for-returning-to-school/

Some top tips about preparing your child for the return to school from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists - https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/attachemnt/Top%20tips%20for%20preparing%20your%20child%20for%20returning%20to%20school%20-1%20%282%29.pdf

Sendiass, as always, have lots of useful information, resources and external links on their website to support parents and children. There is a specific section now for ‘Back to school’ and ‘transition’ - https://www.suffolksendiass.co.uk/covid-19/back-to-school

Activities

Create an ‘All about me’ book/poster with key things your child would like their teacher to know, especially what is important to me and how people can help me (just like your child’s one page profile).

Story book called ‘My back to school bubble’ about how school may be different and what it might be like to now be part of a ‘bubble’

A scale activity for children to rate how ok or worried they feel about different aspects of returning to school. This would be great to complete with your child and then discuss and reassure where needed. You can also pass this information on to Miss Read or the child’s class teacher to see if we can do anything to help with their particular worries.

Practising mindfulness over the summer break will help your child deal with any anxieties or worries when they return to school. This resource is a two-week calendar with a mindfulness activity suggested each day, which you could use for the last two weeks of summer.