Preparing Your Child for September Starts Now: A Psychologist's Guide to Smoother Transitions
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Written by Clinical Psychologist, Dr Daniel Weisberg
July 30th, 2026
"How do I prepare my child for September?"
It's one of the questions we're asked most frequently over the summer holidays.
Whether your child is moving from Reception to Year 1, Year 6 to Year 7, starting a new school, or simply returning after six weeks away, transitions can feel exciting and overwhelming all at once.
As adults, we often focus on practical preparation - buying new shoes, labelling uniform, ordering stationery and ticking everything off the checklist.
Children are preparing too.
The difference is that they're often preparing emotionally.
During our recent parent webinar, Dr Daniel Weisberg, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, explained why transitions feel so significant for children and shared practical ways families can build confidence before September arrives.
The encouraging news?
Preparation doesn't need to happen during the final weekend of the holidays.
In fact, the most effective preparation starts long before then.
Why do children find change so difficult?
Children thrive on familiarity.
Knowing what tomorrow looks like helps the brain feel safe. Familiar routines reduce the amount of information children need to process, leaving more energy for learning, playing and socialising.
Transitions remove much of that certainty.
Suddenly there are new classrooms, different teachers, unfamiliar routines, changing friendships and new expectations.
For some children these changes are exciting.
For others, uncertainty can quickly become overwhelming.
As Dr Weisberg explains,
"Children's brains naturally want to know what happens next. The moment they don't know, anxiety begins filling in the blanks."
This doesn't mean something is wrong.
It means their brain is doing exactly what it has evolved to do, trying to predict and prepare for the unknown.
The mistake many parents make
When we know September is approaching, it's tempting to leave preparation until the final few days.
We buy the shoes.
Iron the uniform.
Pack the school bag.
Talk about school.
Then hope for the best.
Emotionally, however, this can feel like asking children to climb a mountain overnight.
Dr Weisberg suggests thinking about preparation differently.
"Preparation builds confidence. Anxiety grows in uncertainty."
Instead of one big conversation at the end of August, aim for lots of small conversations and experiences across the summer.
Confidence grows gradually.
Five practical ways to prepare your child
Rather than trying to do everything at once, focus on small, manageable steps.
Make the unfamiliar feel familiar
Children feel calmer when something new becomes just a little less new.
Depending on your child's age, this might include:
Driving or walking past the school.
Visiting the playground if it's open.
Looking at photographs on the school website.
Watching transition videos.
Trying on school uniform together.
Packing the school bag as a game.
None of these activities remove uncertainty completely.
They simply reduce it.
Talk about change before worries appear
Many parents wait until their child raises concerns.
Instead, gently open conversations throughout the holidays.
You might say:
"I wonder what you're most looking forward to about your new class?"
"I wonder if there are any parts that feel a bit uncertain."
Notice the word wonder.
Rather than asking direct questions, wondering creates space for children to join the conversation without feeling pressured.
Focus on routines, not rigid schedules
One of the most interesting ideas shared during the webinar was the difference between structure and schedule.
Parents often worry that the summer holidays need to be carefully organised.
In reality, children don't need every hour planned.
They need predictable anchor points.
Dr Weisberg recommends keeping a few routines relatively consistent, such as:
Similar wake-up times.
Regular mealtimes.
A familiar bedtime routine.
Time outdoors.
Opportunities to rest.
These small routines provide security whilst still allowing plenty of flexibility.
Build confidence through everyday experiences
Confidence doesn't arrive the night before school starts.
It develops through repeated experiences of trying something new.
Throughout the summer, encourage small opportunities for independence.
Ordering their own ice cream.
Asking a shop assistant a question.
Trying a new activity.
Choosing something from a menu.
Making a mistake and trying again.
As Dr Weisberg explains,
"Confidence grows from solving problems, trying new things and discovering that we can cope."
Remember that behaviour often changes before transitions
One of the biggest surprises for parents is that children don't always become anxious during September.
Sometimes anxiety appears weeks beforehand.
You might notice:
Increased irritability
Bedtime worries
More emotional outbursts
Clinginess
Complaints of feeling unwell
Increased reassurance seeking
Rather than seeing these behaviours as random, consider whether they might be linked to the upcoming transition.
Often, they're your child's way of communicating uncertainty.
Supporting children moving to secondary school
The transition from primary to secondary school deserves special attention.
Alongside new academic expectations, children are navigating:
Different teachers.
Larger environments.
New friendship groups.
Greater independence.
Physical changes associated with adolescence.
It is entirely normal for this transition to feel significant.
If your child seems worried, consider speaking to the school before September.
Most schools have experienced pastoral teams who support children through this transition every year.
Sharing helpful information early can make a real difference.
What if my child is neurodivergent?
For many autistic and ADHD children, transitions require even more planning.
Unexpected changes, unfamiliar routines and uncertainty can feel particularly overwhelming.
Dr Weisberg recommends using practical, visual supports wherever possible.
These might include:
Countdown calendars.
Visual timetables.
Photos of teachers.
Clear routines.
Practising journeys.
Concrete language.
One-page profiles shared with school.
Reducing uncertainty wherever possible allows children to use their energy for adapting, rather than constantly predicting what might happen next.
Remember: September doesn't need to be perfect
Parents often feel enormous pressure to create the "perfect" summer before school returns.
In reality, children aren't looking for perfect holidays.
They're looking for connection.
Predictability.
Opportunities to ask questions.
Permission to feel nervous.
And adults who believe they can cope.
As Dr Weisberg reminded parents throughout the webinar,
"Children don't need perfect parents. They need emotionally available ones."
That emotional availability, being curious, listening without rushing to fix everything, and preparing together, is often far more valuable than any perfectly organised checklist.
A simple takeaway:
As September approaches, ask yourself three questions:
How can I make tomorrow feel a little more predictable?
How can I stay connected with my child today?
How can I help them leave this summer feeling just a little more capable than when it began?
Sometimes, those small moments are what make the biggest difference.
Want to watch the full one hour session which delves deeper into this topic? Simply click below:
