As a parent, it’s natural to feel a little bit anxious about how your child will cope with school. Once you’ve dropped them off in the playground, you’ll have to wait until home-time to hear how their day went… and they might not tell you much when you ask! Even if you don’t know all the details, here are some ways to build up a child’s resilience and boost their confidence for managing the school day.

It’s easier to take on the day when we know what’s likely to happen next, and what’s going to be expected of us. For children that are feeling anxious, this is even more important. It doesn’t have to be timetabled to the exact minute, but following a familiar pattern is really reassuring. Try to keep morning routines and bedtime wind-downs at roughly the same times, with steps in the same order. Having a weekly schedule for regular activities can help too. Of course, there will be surprises and unexpected things crop up, but having a consistent baseline can make those one-off detours easier to cope with.