{"id":20640,"date":"2025-08-19T13:15:42","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T12:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.potentialplusuk.org\/?p=20640"},"modified":"2025-08-19T13:15:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T12:15:04","slug":"tips-for-dealing-with-back-to-school-emotions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2025\/08\/19\/tips-for-dealing-with-back-to-school-emotions\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips For Dealing With Back To School Emotions"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]As the summer holidays come to an end, your child might start showing signs of anxiety or reluctance about returning to school. This short blog post from our archive offers practical ideas to help ease those worries and strengthen your connection with your child, supporting a smoother transition back to the classroom.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like more personalized guidance, our Consultancy Service<\/a> is open to all and provides a deeper, structured 45-minute session via Microsoft Teams with a qualified Specialist in Gifted Education and Care. For insights into how your child learns and strategies to help them thrive, you might also consider one of our Educational Assessments<\/a>. Or to hear from other families navigating similar transitions, our online and in-person events<\/a> are a great place to connect and share experiences.<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]They Don\u2019t Want to Get Up and Get Ready<\/strong><\/p>\n

Is the new term making your usually reluctant-for-bed-goer more tired than usual so that they\u2019re falling asleep earlier? Or perhaps they\u2019re waking up in no mood to get up.<\/p>\n

Challenging your child calmly rather than ordering them to get going is more likely to result in them opening up to you. Try asking \u201cwhat do you think you\u2019ll miss out on?\u201d or \u201cwhat do you think will happen if you don\u2019t give it a try?\u201d That way you\u2019re encouraging them to consider making a positive decision and taking responsibility for their day.<\/p>\n

Younger children might respond with a \u201cdon\u2019t know\u201d, in which case you could try asking them to think about it \u2013 treat it as problem-solving if it helps. Tweens may try the \u201cdon\u2019t care\u201d, in which case you should consider stepping aside to let them face the consequences of not getting ready. Could you offer a compromise as an incentive, such as allowing reading at the breakfast table as a way to offset the loss of reading in bed? Worried about them not eating anything? Stick on an audiobook or podcast so that their mind is occupied and then they\u2019ll feel more inclined to eat.<\/p>\n

You could also give an older child time to prepare, by buying an alarm clock that simulates natural sunrise.<\/p>\n

\u2026Or They Get Up Fearing a Detention<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your late riser is suddenly out of bed earlier than you ever dreamed of! Unfortunately, the deep sensitivities of children with high learning potential can mean that they really are<\/em> worried about the new rules. Chat about how it\u2019s healthy to respect that a school needs rules and that detention is a deterrent, but acknowledge the anxiety. Remind them that you\u2019re on their side and will do what you can to ensure that they have plenty of time. You could also explain that teachers don\u2019t want to terrify their pupils, they just want them to be punctual. Your child might feel less apprehensive about the connotations of the word \u201cdetention\u201d if you explain that it exists to encourage responsibility, rather than just being a punishment.<\/p>\n

They Dislike the Earlier Bedtime Routines<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe there are shouting matches at bedtime, because your child thinks earlier bedtimes are unfair? How about suggesting you\u2019d be happy to move their bedtime slightly later during the weekend if they\u2019ve shown you that they\u2019ll get up at the new time from Monday to Friday? If they don\u2019t co-operate, you could then explain that the later bedtime is a privilege to be earned, only if they can work out how to get themselves up on time.<\/p>\n

The Teacher Says They\u2019re Messing About <\/strong><\/p>\n

Bored or resentful of the rules? Remember that your child with the high IQ is still a child, with asynchronous behaviour possibly influencing it. Apart from the standard reasons, your child might be distracted because they are learning information far quicker than their peers. If the right level of challenge isn\u2019t being offered, keep politely advocating for them. See advice sheet PA315: Meeting With the School<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And if they already know the topic? As a short-term measure show sympathy with your child rather than venting your frustration about the teachers. As high potential learners go into subjects more profoundly, could they do extra research on the topic learnt in class and then relate it to something they\u2019re fascinated by? It will make the homework less tedious and is also good practice in independent study skills.<\/p>\n

They Miss the summer holidays<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having been off school for a while, they\u2019re now back in. Remind them that you\u2019re proud of them no matter what.<\/p>\n

If they\u2019ve entered in Year 7 or started a secondary school, you could remind your child that most of the pupils are finding their feet. Primary school had a quite different set of expectations than secondary does.<\/p>\n

How many clubs are on offer that they\u2019ve yet to try? See if you can gauge a level of excitement about the opportunities to come. Ask the school which ones are likely to appear.<\/p>\n

Quick Esteem-Boosting Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

Praise accomplishment of tasks often taken for granted: packing the correct sports equipment or remembering the location of each classroom. For details on how to say it, see advice sheet PA608: Helping High Learning Potential Children Deal with Emotional Regulation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ease off the packed weekend with some chill-out time: there\u2019s nothing wrong with more reading in bed if it improves their mood!<\/p>\n

Focus on the \u201coutside school\u201d and what your child is accomplishing. For example, are they better at riding their bike? Get them outdoors and explore a new cycle path. Try education which doesn\u2019t involve pressure: making a new meal, learning about types of plants on a walk, or watching The Planets<\/em><\/a> on iPlayer.<\/p>\n

Talk about those past times in school that were successful. What did your child do to ensure those happened?<\/p>\n

Are they begging to join an after-school club? if you\u2019re not sure that they\u2019re ready for it, meet halfway by agreeing to short periods in the school library, ICT suite or afterschool common room time.<\/p>\n

Focus on building closeness, the right kind of independence and trust with your child to help them to start to smooth out the term!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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