03/09/2026
Some lovely tips for helping children who may be anxious about starting/ returning to school or nursery 🩷
We’ve had a few enquiries from concerned parents this week… so cue one of my longer, more informative posts 💚
If your little one is feeling nervous about returning to school after the break, please remember: they don’t need you to take every worried feeling away. They need your calm, reassuring presence while they move through it.
Acknowledge those big emotions without judgement or telling them what they should be feeling. The fear of separating from you is very real to them, and simply feeling heard can make an enormous difference.
Your connection with your child is the greatest reassurance you can offer—but a few little rituals can help them carry that connection into school:
❤️ Matching Love Hearts
Draw a small heart on your wrist and a matching one on theirs. If they miss you or feel worried during the day, they can press their fingers onto their heart and feel their pulse—like a reassuring little heartbeat.
Tell them you’ll press yours whenever you’re thinking about them too. You could also add the tiniest spray of your perfume or aftershave, providing school policies and sensitivities allow.
🪨 Pebble in My Pocket
Choose two similar pebbles, gemstones or crystals. Keep one in your pocket while your child carries the other.
Whenever they feel nervous or miss you, they can give their pebble a little squeeze and remember that you’re carrying its matching one. A small family photograph or scented handkerchief can work just as well.
Choose something safe and age-appropriate, and check what your child’s school permits.
💭 Worries in My Pocket
Invite your child to tell you what is worrying them and write each worry on a small piece of paper.
Place the papers in your pocket and say:
“I’ll carry your worries today, so you don’t have to carry them all by yourself.”
It doesn’t dismiss their fears—it shows them they don’t have to face those fears alone.
And when it’s time to say goodbye, try to keep it warm, confident and consistent. Even if your own heart is doing somersaults, your calmness tells them:
“You are safe. I believe in you. I’ll be here when you come back.” 💚
Have you found a little ritual that helped your child with separation or returning to school? Please share it below—it may be exactly what another worried parent needs to read today.
Please feel free to share far and wide 🙏🏼
