Supporting Your Child’s Mental Wellness as They Head Back to School
As the first days of the school year approach, many families feel a mixture of excitement — and tension. For children (and even parents!) this time can bring renewed energy and hope, but also stress, worry, and overwhelm. Transitions, after all, are rarely seamless — new classrooms, fresh expectations, changed routines. It’s completely natural for kids to feel a bit uneasy. The good news: with a little preparation and consistent emotional support, you can help your child step into the new school year grounded, resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.
Here are a few meaningful ways to support your child’s emotional well-being in the weeks and months ahead:
Ease into Routines Early
One of the biggest challenges for children when school resumes is adjusting suddenly from summer’s flexibility to structured schedules. Easing back into consistent sleep, meal, and screen-time routines a week or two before school starts can make a world of difference. Gradually shifting bedtimes, wake-up times, and meal hours helps their body and mind anticipate and adapt to school life more smoothly. This doesn’t need to feel punitive — try framing it as a gradual ramp-up, a gentle switch, rather than an abrupt reset.
Talk Through Worries
Children often hold onto thoughts and concerns that they don’t know how to express — or fear they might bother you with. Take intentional time for open-hearted conversations. Ask not just “how was your day?” but deeper questions like: “What are you most excited about this semester?” or “Is there anything you’re a little nervous about?” Invite honesty, remind them that all feelings are okay, and make it clear that their concerns are valid and worthy of attention. This helps them feel heard, supported, and less alone.
Practice Coping Skills Together
Transitions can stir up anxiety, but having a toolkit of coping skills ready can make those early school days more manageable. Try practicing simple techniques at home: deep breathing or “belly breaths,” taking short mental breaks, or breathing through a calm mantra. You might even help your child pick a small comfort object — perhaps a smooth stone, a tiny toy, or a favorite keychain — to keep in their backpack. Having that tangible piece of familiarity can be a quiet anchor when things feel uncertain. Role-play how they might use their coping tools at school: if they feel jittery before class, what can they do? When feeling overwhelmed on the playground, what helps them ground themselves? The more familiar these tools become, the more likely they’ll reach for them when needed.
Stay Connected to Their Feelings — Every Day
Once school starts, it’s easy for evenings to become a blur of homework, chores, and tired kids. But carving out a few minutes each day for sincere connection can make a huge difference. After school or dinner, ask open-ended questions: “What was something that felt hard today?” “What made you smile or laugh?” “Was there a moment you wished you could change?” These gentle check-ins encourage reflection, and they build trust. Over time, this consistent curiosity communicates: “I care about your inner world. Your feelings matter.”
Model Calm, Confidence, and Empathy
Children don’t just listen to what we say — they watch how we feel. If you talk about school with anxiety or dread, they may absorb those emotions. By presenting transitions with calm reassurance — even if you have some nerves too — you set a tone of stability and resilience. Share stories of times you faced change and managed it, how you coped, what helped you feel settled. Your confidence (or at least your composed openness) becomes a mirror.
At WellMinded Counseling, we know that every child is unique — and so is every transition. While the start of school can be a time of growing pains and uncertainty, it’s also an opportunity: a chance to teach them self-awareness, resilience, and self-compassion. Watching them take small steps to manage big feelings, witnessing their growing confidence — these are things that stay with them long after the school year begins.
If your child is struggling with back-to-school anxiety, change, or adjustment — or if you just feel uncertain about how to best support them — we’re here to help. A little extra care and understanding now can pay off in a happier, healthier, more successful school year ahead.
Here’s to a year full of growth, curiosity, and emotional strength!
OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES WE OFFER IN DENVER, CO
We offer a variety of additional services besides brain-spotting and EMDR therapy. WellMinded Counseling also offers the following therapy services: