Back to School Toolkit - FREE Instant Download

Practical tools to help children manage back-to-school worries, separation feelings and those tricky first-day nerves.

Going back to school can bring lots of different feelings. A child might feel excited one moment and worried the next, particularly if they find separation, change or uncertainty difficult.

The Sinead York Wellbeing Back to School Toolkit is a gentle, practical resource designed to help children talk about their worries, identify what helps them feel safe and develop simple strategies they can use before and during the school day.

Inside the toolkit:

• It’s OK to feel worried – reassuring children that back-to-school worries are normal and can become easier.
• Calm tools – simple strategies including belly breathing, positive thinking, visualisation and talking to someone they trust.
• What helps me? – space for children to identify or draw the things that help them feel better about school.
• Helpful self-talk – encouraging children to practise kind, reassuring thoughts.
• My drop-off plan – helping children and grown-ups create a predictable goodbye routine together.
• When I feel worried at school – creating a simple plan children can return to when worries appear during the day.
• Things I’m looking forward to – shifting some attention towards the positive parts of returning to school.

Perfect for:
Children experiencing back-to-school worries, separation anxiety or nervousness around returning to school; parents and carers preparing for a new school term; and children who benefit from having a clear plan and practical calming strategies.

FREE Instant Digital Download

This is a digital product. No physical item will be posted.

Download and print the toolkit at home, then work through it together before school starts. Children can return to their completed toolkit whenever they need a little reassurance.

For personal use only. 

Please note: This resource is designed to support children's emotional wellbeing and self-awareness. It is not a diagnostic tool or a substitute for individual medical, psychological or mental-health advice. If you are concerned about your child's mental health or safety, please seek appropriate professional support.