As the new school year begins, psychologists emphasise the importance of recognising and validating children’s emotions rather than dismissing their nerves. Preparation and steady support are key to helping children manage first-day jitters and build confidence.
As the new school year approaches, psychologists say a child’s nerves are not automatically a warning sign. A knot in the stomach can simply reflect a major change, and experts interviewed by VG say parents should resist turning that discomfort into a crisis. The most useful response is usually calm recognition rather than pressure, because children often take their cue from the adults around them.
Specialists cited by Johns Hopkins Medicine and OsloMet say preparation helps children feel less uncertain. That can mean easing back into school routines, getting sleep and mealtimes closer to term-time schedules, visiting the school in advance and talking through what the first days may look like. Letting a child help choose school supplies or practise practical skills on their own can also build a sense of control and confidence, rather than leaving them feeling that everything is happening to them.
What parents should avoid, VG says, is dismissing the fear, brushing it off with cheerful reassurance or rushing straight to distraction. Related guidance from VG on helping children regulate emotions says that naming the feeling and acknowledging it tends to work better than minimising it. Johns Hopkins Medicine makes a similar point, recommending that parents validate worries, then work with the child on a simple coping plan instead of trying to force the anxiety away.
Clinicians at the Cleveland Clinic say back-to-school jitters are common, but they should ease as children settle in. If the worry becomes intense, lasts for weeks or starts to interfere with sleep, appetite or attendance, experts advise seeking professional help. The broader message from the sources is consistent: children usually do better when adults are steady, honest and patient, not when they are hurried into pretending that fear is not there.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
