Back to school – A guide for parents

As the new school year begins across Australia, back-to-school excitement often blends with nerves about friendships and fitting in. This guide offers parents practical, evidence-based strategies to help children settle smoothly, build connections, and embrace kindness. 

Tackling back-to-school anxiety

Children frequently face overwhelm at the start of term. They grapple with new classes, teachers, or peers after long holidays. Worries about exclusion or loneliness can spark school refusal or withdrawal. These issues remain as relevant today as ever.

As founder of You Can Sit With Me, Sophie Sparks observes, “Even though education is moving forward, we seem to have that same problem where children feel anxious. They worry about going to school. And when they are at school, they sometimes feel isolated and that they do not have anyone to sit with or play with.”

Parents can ease this by validating emotions through daily chats. Try questions like “What felt good today?” or “Anyone new you met?” Spot early signs like tummy aches or reluctance to leave home. Then connect with teachers promptly. Anti bullying and kindness programs like You Can Sit With Me align with national wellbeing frameworks to foster belonging right away.

Pre-school preparation tips

Prep work builds confidence. Discuss routines and role-play greetings like, “Want to play together?” Pack comforting items such as a favourite lunch. Familiarise kids with the playground via visits. This reduces the unknown.

Instill kindness values at home. Model inclusion during outings and discuss empathy through stories. Visual checklists for mornings promote independence. They mirror classroom structures. These steps prime children for positive social starts.

Navigating the first week

Early days set social tones. Arrange low-key playdates through class lists. Debrief pick-ups with “How was recess?” Guide gently on joining games by spotting shared interests. Do this without hovering.

If isolation appears, like solitary lunches, encourage small steps or teacher support. Praise bravery with “Great job saying hi!” Founder Sparks reminds us, “I know how lonely kids can get at school.” This underscores the need for proactive care. Reinforce that kindness, like sharing seats, sparks friendships.

Fostering lasting friendships

Quality friendships hinge on skills like communication and empathy. Teach phrases for boundaries: “That does not feel nice. Let us play fairly.” Role-play rejections or invites to build resilience.

Encourage diverse connections via clubs or hobbies. Celebrate differences in culture or ability. Focus on a few solid bonds over many shallow ones. Use weekly family check-ins to track growth.

Address bullying early

Over half of Aussie kids encounter bullying, from teasing to exclusion. Equip them to stay calm, walk away, and report. Avoid “toughen up” myths. Monitor paths to school. Leverage safe spaces with You Can Sit With Me signs.

Partner with schools on policies and home habits like supervised online time. As Sparks declares, “You Can Sit With Me, Together we can stamp out bullying.” Swift, united action halts escalation.

Kindness as a foundation

Kindness counters isolation powerfully. You Can Sit With Me, in over 1,000 schools, uses yellow wristbands as “Come sit with me” signals for any child. Peers offer presence or fetch help. No fixes needed.

“You Can Sit With Me is five little words to change a little life,” Sparks emphasises. Parents amplify this by modelling empathy and advocating programme adoption. Evidence links it to reduced bullying and higher wellbeing.

Discover You Can Sit With Me

This tier 1 programme spans pavement to classroom. It empowers peer ambassadors against anxiety and refusal. “Empowering children, parents and educators through inclusive, evidence-based, values-based education,” Sparks affirms.

Start with staff sessions, wristbands, and toolkits. Add preschool or book club variants for diverse needs. Free to launch, it is transforming communities nationwide.

Back to school action plan

• Hold daily, judgement-free check-ins.

• Role-play social scenarios weekly.

• Model inclusion in family life.

• Pitch You Can Sit With Me to school leaders.

• Praise efforts and resilience.

• Monitor and report concerns fast.

• Order resources. Host events.

School partnerships

Attend orientations and review wellbeing plans. Suggest peer initiatives. Visual aids aid routines. Counsellors handle ongoing issues, with helplines as backup. Your voice strengthens systems.

Build habits like kindness jars for daily wins. Monthly reflections celebrate progress. Extend to clubs for empathetic futures. With tools like You Can Sit With Me, kids thrive in belonging.

Read our other helpful blogs:

How to help your child transition back to school after the holidays

How to help your shy child thrive – a complete guide for parents

Sleep and exercise routines help kids handle social challenges

How to stand up to a bully – tips for kids and parents

Building safer, kinder preschools

Reducing bullying in preschool requires early, consistent, and coordinated action by everyone involved. Evidence-based peer-led programs like You Can Sit With Me provide teachers, parents, and counsellors with simple, structured tools to encourage empathy, sharing, and emotional safety right from the start. With the right support, even the youngest learners can discover how to be a good friend and help others belong.

You Can Sit With Me is an inclusive, evidence-based, peer-led program reducing school refusal, social isolation, bullying, exclusion and non-inclusive behaviour.

You Can Sit With Me provides free programs for schools, sporting clubs and community groups.

Please consider supporting education for children across Australia. Your generous, fully tax deductible donation can help make a real difference in many young lives. Thank you for your kindness.

You Can Sit With Me has been recognised as a “Tier 1 Preventative Program” in the Australian Government’s Anti‑Bullying Rapid Review Final Report.