Back to school is much more than just getting back into the routine. It's a key stage in your child's life, a pivotal moment for their emotional balance, self-confidence, and development. What if this year we chose to turn this transition into a positive and enriching family adventure?
Making Back to School a Positive Adventure
Let's forget for a moment the list of supplies to cover. Back to school is above all an emotional transition for our children, especially between the ages of 6 and 12. They leave the freedom of the holidays to dive into a new year, with its share of discoveries, reunions, but also small apprehensions.
Rather than experiencing the usual stress, let's view this time as a golden opportunity to strengthen our bonds and help our children develop resilience and adaptability. The goal is to create a family cocoon where they feel safe, heard, and ready to explore the world ahead.
It all starts with our state of mind as parents.
Our approach to the start of the school year inevitably affects our children. If we sigh about the end of the holidays, they'll feel the same nostalgia. On the other hand, if we approach it with enthusiasm, we send them the message that this new phase is full of promise.
How can we do this in practice? By choosing to focus on the positive aspects:
- Reunions : Evoke the joy of seeing friends again, sharing vacation memories, and seeing beloved teachers.
- Discovery : Talk curiously about the new subjects, projects or sports activities that await him this year.
- Small personal challenges : Suggest that we brainstorm one or two fun goals for the year together, such as learning to tie their own shoelaces or reading a book a month.
The idea isn't to ignore their little anxieties, but to embrace them while showing them that the positive can take up more space. It's a wonderful opportunity to teach them to cultivate an optimistic outlook on life's changes.
A tool that I find fantastic to accompany this transition smoothly is a creative journal like My Book Story . Far from being an additional homework, it is a space for personal and safe expression. Your child can draw their fears to better tame them, write down their dreams for the new year or simply scribble down their emotions. It is a real companion to transform the start of the school year into a positive experience, centered on their inner well-being.
Establish rituals for a smooth transition
The end of the holidays is often a mixed bag of emotions. To transform this little pang of sadness into positive energy, nothing beats family rituals. They act as reassuring bridges between the freedom of summer and the back-to-school environment, making the change much less abrupt.
It doesn't need to be anything fancy! A ritual is simply a moment we choose to mark together, a gesture that anchors a sense of security and continuity. It's a very concrete way of saying, "We're closing one wonderful chapter and preparing together for the next."
These small habits help validate your child's emotions. Their nostalgia is legitimate, and at the same time, we help them look to the future with confidence.
Celebrating memories to better project ourselves
Rather than letting summer memories fade away, why not give them a place of honor? A few days before the start of the school year, organize a "summer memory party." The idea is simple: everyone shares their favorite, funniest, and most touching moment.
To make this ritual even more memorable:
- Let's draw our memories : Invite your child to illustrate their best memory in their My Book Story notebook. This drawing becomes a concrete trace of their joy, a little treasure to rediscover later.
- The Memory Jar : Everyone writes (or draws) their favorite moment on a small piece of paper, then slips it into a jar. A great remedy to bring out in the middle of winter when you're feeling down!
- The "Top 10" slideshow : Choose the 10 best photos from your vacation together and watch them as a family with some upbeat music.
Celebrating the good times in this way helps bring the holidays full circle on a note of gratitude, rather than a sense of loss.
The idea isn't to erase the end of the holidays, but to use them as a springboard. By honoring what has been experienced, we give the child a solid emotional foundation to welcome what comes next with serenity.
Establish benchmarks for D-day
Back-to-school morning can be a stressful time. A little ritual can make all the difference by creating a reassuring environment. One idea I really like is to prepare a "courage box" the night before.
It's very simple: take a small box that the child decorates, and fill it together. Inside, you can slip:
- A little sweet word from you.
- A drawing that makes him laugh.
- A small, familiar object (a pebble picked up on the beach, a key ring) that reminds him of home.
This symbolic object, slipped into his pencil case or backpack , becomes a kind of emotional anchor. He can touch it discreetly if he feels a little wave of anxiety rising. This simple gesture gives him a sense of control and reminds him that you are with him, even from afar.
What if we turned the chore of collecting supplies into a game?
The back-to-school shopping spree is a real headache for many parents. What if we took a completely different approach this year? Instead of taking on everything, why not make your child the "project manager" for their own back-to-school season? It's a golden opportunity to boost their self-confidence.
Think of the famous school list not as a constraint, but as a treasure map. Turn shopping into a "special mission": they have the map, and it's up to them to find the treasures on the shelves. Let them choose the color of their notebooks, the design on their planner... These small choices, which seem trivial to us, give them a sense of control and motivate them for the year ahead.
It's simple logic: the more he feels his things belong to him, the more he'll take care of them. Encourage him to truly make them his own.
- A few stickers of your current heroes to personalize your notebooks.
- A unique drawing that he will have made himself on the cover of his notebook.
- A little favorite key ring attached to his pencil case, chosen just the two of you.
With a little imagination, simple school objects become his own tools, his own treasures.
An office corner just for him
Organizing your child's workspace is just as crucial. There's no need for a dedicated room; a small corner in the living room can do the trick, as long as it's their own. The idea is to create a little cocoon where they'll feel comfortable and confident while doing their homework.
Involve him in the organization. Ask him: "Where would you like to store your pencils so they're easy to reach?" "How do you prefer to organize your books?" This simple dialogue helps him invest in his space and understand that he can organize himself.
By giving your child an active role in these preparations, you're doing more than just checking boxes on a list. You're showing them that their opinion matters, that they're capable, and that their work environment is there to support them, not constrain them.
Besides, this back-to-school frenzy is a fairly recent tradition. Did you know that it wasn't until 1816 that municipalities were required to open primary schools? And it wasn't until 1959 that schooling became compulsory until the age of 16. It's quite fascinating to see how much things have changed! For those who are curious, Limedia traces the fascinating history of the back-to-school season .
Talking about back-to-school emotions: instructions
Back to school ... for a child, it's a real cocktail of emotions! There's the excitement of seeing their friends again and discovering their new teacher, but also a touch of anxiety about the unknown. The fear of not making it, the sadness of leaving the cocoon of vacation... it's all mixed together. The key to helping them get through this period calmly is to recognize and welcome everything they're feeling.
Forget the classic "So, how's the start of the school year?" which often only elicits a rather uninformative "meh" or "how's it going?" The idea is to create a real moment of exchange, a safe space where they can open up without pressure. For that, there's nothing like slightly more original questions.
Ask the right questions to really listen
After a day at school, fatigue often takes over, and a debriefing isn't always on the agenda. To get the conversation started smoothly and in a fun way, why not try a few different approaches?
- "What's the funniest or most surprising thing that happened to you today?"
- “Tell me about a moment that made you smile.”
- "If your classroom were a magical kingdom, what would be its name and most important law?"
Drawing, an open door to their inner world
Sometimes words just don't come, especially for the youngest or most shy children. This is where drawing becomes an extraordinary ally. A journal like My Book Story can become a true confidant, a secret garden where the child can share their joys, fears, and dreams.
The important thing isn't to analyze or judge their creations. It's simply to offer them an unfiltered channel of expression. By welcoming all emotions, even anger or fear, we send them an essential message: "You have the right to feel all of this, and I'm here to support you."
To help you get started, here are some ideas for transforming your child's emotions into creative moments of sharing.
Ideas for addressing back-to-school emotions
| Child's emotion | Open question to ask | Suggested creative activity (with My Book Story) |
|---|---|---|
| Excitement / Joy | "What are you most looking forward to doing at school this year?" | "Draw yourself with your friends in the playground. What are you doing?" |
| Apprehension / Fear | "If there was one little thing that worried you a little, what would it be?" | "Invent and draw a 'back-to-school monster'. Give it a funny name to make it less scary." |
| Sadness / Nostalgia | "What will you miss most about the holidays?" | “Create a collage with your summer memories or draw your favorite moment.” |
| Anger / Frustration | "Was there anything that bothered you or seemed unfair today?" | "Draw an erupting volcano to represent your anger, or doodle across a whole page to let it out." |
This chart is just a starting point. The key is to listen carefully and adapt to your child's personality, making this moment a soothing and intimate ritual.
Let's not forget that classroom context is also important. The number of students can influence our children's well-being. While kindergarten classes have become smaller since the 1980s, the trend is opposite in middle school, where the average class size has gone from 23 to 26 students in 2022. A larger class can be more intimidating. For those who want to dig deeper, Statista offers a detailed analysis of these figures .
Supporting your child beyond the first day
The big day has arrived. It's a key moment, but true support for a successful return to school is built over time. Your calm and enthusiasm are your best allies, as they are incredibly communicative for your child.
To make this first morning go smoothly, make it a special moment. The night before, take the time to prepare their backpack and outfit together. On the day itself, why not plan a breakfast that's a little more festive than usual? These simple little rituals create an atmosphere of trust and serenity.
Set up a time for discussion after school
More than the morning of the new school year, it's the discussions you have during the first few weeks that really matter. The fatigue of the first few days can make children a little grumpy or, on the contrary, very quiet. The idea is to give them a space to confide, without it turning into an interrogation.
The important thing isn't to know everything, but to stay connected. A simple "Tell me something that made you smile today" is often much more meaningful than "So, how was school?" This opens the door to sharing and highlights the small victories of everyday life.
A creative journal is the perfect tool for this evening ritual. Take just 10 minutes to sit down with your child and brainstorm some creative ideas:
- “What if you drew the most amazing thing you’ve learned?”
- "Who made you laugh or helped you today? Just write their first name."
- “What emotion did you feel the most during your day? Choose a color to draw it.”
This playful and gentle approach allows you to focus on the positive, while remaining attentive to any concerns, and strengthens your bond. This is precious time, especially when you think of the millions of children who are going through this transition. To give you an idea, in 2018, France had 12.9 million students from primary to secondary school. To learn more, you can consult the detailed statistics from INSEE on the start of the school year .
We answer your questions about going back to school
Back-to-school is often a time filled with questions, for both children and parents. To help you gain clarity and approach this stage gently, here are some tips to support your child and help them grow emotionally.
My child is anxious before going back to school, how can I calm him down?
First and foremost, acknowledge their emotion. A simple, "I can see you're a little worried, and that's perfectly normal," can make all the difference. Feeling understood is the first step to feeling better.
Rather than denying their fear, try to make it more tangible. Suggest that they draw what frightens them. By giving their anxiety a shape, color, and even a funny name, it immediately becomes less overwhelming.
In the evening, a calming ritual before bed is a great way to relieve tension. A story, a gentle discussion about lighthearted topics... anything that can create a sense of serenity before the big day is a good idea.
How do I get my child to talk about their school day?
We all tend to ask the famous question: "So, how was school?" And we often get a simple "yes" or "good." To loosen tongues, we need to change our approach.
Ask more original and less direct questions, ideally during a relaxed time like dinner or a car ride.
For example, try: "What's the funniest thing that happened to you today?" or "If you had to give your day a color, what would it be?"
Sometimes drawing or playing are much better tools than talking. The important thing isn't to get a comprehensive report, but to maintain a connection and share a moment of complicity, without pressure.
How can I help him be more independent in his organization?
Independence is something you learn little by little. The idea isn't to do everything for them, but to give them the right tools so they can do it on their own. For example, you can create a little visual routine together with drawings: brushing their teeth, packing their bag, putting on their pajamas.
For homework, set a specific time during the day and create a quiet corner for him. Let him start on his own, simply telling him that you're close by if he has a question. What matters is valuing his efforts to be organized, much more than the perfect result. This way, he learns to become the driver of his own daily life.
To make the start of the school year a positive and creative adventure, the My Book Story journal is a great companion. It helps your child put their emotions into words and build their confidence throughout the school year. Discover the My Book Story notebook right here .