Changes at nursery or school, or college may feel big or overwhelming to your child. They might be starting a new school, or adjusting to new rules. They may be moving to a new school year or a new school (which is sometimes known as a ‘transition’).
Starting or adjusting to new things at nursery can be hard for children. Before they start, or once they have started, you can:
Your child might feel worried about being in a bigger school. They can find the schedule makes them tired. Or they may be scared to go back after some time away.
Ask them how they’re feeling and listen to their worries. Reassure them that it’s OK to feel this way. It can help to:
If a residential trip is planned with the school, explore any worries your child has about sleeping away from home.
Secondary school and college feel daunting for a lot of young people. While your child is at secondary school, they’ll going through a period of brain development and working out who they are. They may also feel under more academic pressure.
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families has a video about adjusting to secondary school.
We also have advice for supporting your child with anxious feelings. Or if your child is refusing to go to school, there are some things you can do.
Going to university can feel like an exciting but daunting adventure. It may be your child’s first experience of living away from home or on their own.
Try to give them opportunities to learn skills like cooking, cleaning and paying bills so they feel confident about these before they go. It’s OK if you don’t do this, though – you can always support them to develop these skills from a distance.