The end of summer... the view from here

As the summer holidays come to an end, a real mix of feelings may be felt. For my family, it's been a busy 6 weeks with lots of adventures, late nights, family days and simple pleasures. Now, as we prepare to return to school, it feels heavy.

Returning to school can be exciting for some children as they love the routine, thrive on the learning environment and enjoy spending time with their friends. However, for many children it is an anxiety inducing time and it feels like a huge mountain to climb.

A new school year means a new teacher. A new classroom. New routines. New topics to learn. New children. Friendships worries and social demands. And with all that there are a lot of unknowns which leads to increased anxiety.

As parents, we often want to take away all the worry and fix all of the problems. However, we can't make the mountain smaller, we can just offer guidance and support as our children climb it. Sometimes, children just need to be heard and to have their feelings validated. Sometimes, they need to hear that it's ok to feel anxious, and it's normal. Standing at the bottom of the mountain, the climb can feel huge. But hearing that their feelings are normal can make those first steps easier to take. Helping them to understand what is making them feel the way they feel can help them to manage those emotions and feel more confident. Taking one step at a time, breaking down the journey.

As the new school year begins, remember that your child doesn't need to have everything figured out on day one. The mountain doesn't have to be climbed all

at once. Be there for them and guide and support them so that they can take those first steps on their journey.