Why September might feel hard for some children

Why September might feel hard for some children

The first few days back at school often come with a sense of fresh starts and excitement, new pencils, shiny shoes, and the return of a much needed routine. But for many children, this transition is not an easy one.

We can’t assume every child had a restful or joyful summer, the truth is some may have experienced trauma, stress, loneliness, chaos, loss, or hours of unregulated screen time that has left their nervous system overstimulated. Many will return to school operating from their survival brain (that part of the brain wired for threat, not learning.)

When children spend weeks immersed in tech or living without boundaries or structure, their brains adapt to that pace. This can leave them dysregulated, anxious, or withdrawn when they re-enter the sensory demands of a classroom.

You might see:

• Struggle or refusal to follow instructions
• Anger and aggression
• Running away/ hiding in toilets
• Sensitivity to noise or boundaries
• Increased irritability, shutdowns, or tears

This is not “bad behaviour” it’s their nervous system trying to find its footing again and a sign that they are in survival mode and not their rational thinking mode. Instead of being told off or sent away, they need your help. Their bodies are flooded with stress hormone that has been building all holiday and they need your help to release some of that stress, calm down and regulate.

What can you do?
Here are some simple strategies to settle children back into school:

In the classroom:

• Turn off the main ceiling light and use fairy lights or soft lamps instead, this reduces visual stimulation and creates a sense of calm, it has a huge impact on noise levels and makes the room feel cosy, especially as the winter months draw in
• Play calm music when the children arrive in the morning to begin reducing those stress hormones. Try playing it as they come into the room in the morning and after break and dinner too. Encourage the children to come in quietly and do some drawing/ calm breathing. Tip: find a calming music video on YouTube with a video of calming animals/ forest etc for those children who need something visual to focus on. (try this one)
• Try some of my therapeutic classroom strategies and add blankets and calming cushions or teddies to your classroom so that the children can use them as regulation tools. Putting a blanket round their shoulders when they are working, or having a teddy on your knee helps reduce those stress hormones and helps them calm down and is so simple and easy!
• Create calm boxes with sensory items like play dough, fidgets, colouring or Lego. Allow the children to grab the boxes when they need them to regulate. When a child is stressed or in survival brain- these boxes can shift them back into rational brain quickly and calmly without much input from you!
• Avoid saying “I hope you had a lovely summer” instead try, “Welcome back. I’m really glad you’re here” – remember, not all children will have had a lovely summer!
• Try to focus on the child’s feelings/ perception or experiences before focusing on their behaviour. This helps them feel seen, validated and heard and moves them gently into their rational brain. Remember to offer them opportunities to self-regulate if they need it too! “This question is a bit tricky and it’s making you want to give up… go and grab a quick drink and look out the window for a few mins and then come back to it” instead of “Come on, you can do it, what did we say yesterday…” Or “You have had a tricky morning this morning and are tired now. It’s hard to be in class right now” instead of “Right come on, back into the classroom its maths time

At break time:

• Offer a quiet zone with books, drawing or sand play for children who need to regulate instead of run about. Chaotic, loud lunchtimes and breaks can trigger children to feel more overwhelmed and will keep them in a state of survival. Offering calm, quiet zones allow them to use their break to regulate and reflect which will also help them have a happier afternoon

These small actions help children transition from survival mode to safety and that is where learning and connection begin.

I hope this helps!

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Thanks so much,
Shahana