Back to school stress management

mghezzi0
Feb 19
2 min read

Children can feel stressed heading back to school, especially if they have experienced trauma or are in out‑of‑home care, and the way adults respond can either increase or reduce that stress. A trauma‑informed, self‑regulation focus helps children feel safer, more settled and ready to learn.

BRAIN TRAIN activities and strategies can help you support your child and yourself.

You can read more and access their trauma‑informed return‑to‑school materials here, this article inspired this blog, https://learn.childhood.org.au/trauma-informed-return-to-school-oohc/

Why going back to school is stressful

Changes in routine, new teachers and classrooms, and social pressures can all trigger anxiety and behaviour changes.
For children who have experienced trauma or live in out‑of‑home care, school transitions can re‑activate feelings of fear, shame or loss of control.
Stress can show up as tummy aches, sleep problems, anger, clinginess, or “shutting down” rather than talking about concerns.

What self‑regulation looks like

Self‑regulation is a child’s ability to notice their feelings, calm their body and choose a safer response, with adult support. It is built over time through predictable relationships, co‑regulation with caring adults, and lots of practice in everyday moments.

Everyday co‑regulation strategies for carers and educators

Stay predictable: Use consistent routines, clear expectations and gentle reminders so children know what will happen next.
Lead with connection: Warm greetings, check‑ins and time to reconnect after holidays signal “you are safe and welcome here.
Offer calming tools: Deep‑breathing, stretching, simple yoga poses, colouring and sensory “brain breaks” can help children settle their bodies.edutopia+1
Use choice and voice: Small choices (where to sit, which task to do first) restore a sense of control that trauma often takes away.
Name and normalise feelings: Simple language like “It makes sense that going back to school feels big today” helps reduce shame and builds emotional literacy.

Working together around school transitions

Children do best when carers, caseworkers and schools share information and plan transitions together in a trauma‑aware way. Checklists and planning tools can support conversations about what helps a particular child feel safe, how stress shows up for them, and what strategies to use consistently across home and school.

Learn more and access practical tools

The Australian Childhood Foundation has developed free, trauma‑informed resources to support children in out‑of‑home care returning to school, including specific guidance for carers and educators.