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During holidays, routines often happily go out the window. But as term one beckons, a stable routine around sleep and mealtimes (along with screen time) should be established as soon as possible, says Grove.

For younger children, a “practice” school day, where they get up early and put on their uniform can help. In Melbourne, mother-of-three Ying-Chia Eisenhut started early in preparing her kids – William, 11, Harry, 8, and Annie, 6, for the new school year.

Along with setting some maths exercises during the holidays, and encouraging her kids to stay active and play with their friends, she has also been teaching them to meditate for a few minutes each night.

“It’s hard for Chinese parents to relax, but I’m trying because the kids complain,” she laughs.

Dealing with nerves

Separation anxiety, particularly for younger kids, may be an issue initially, says Dr Daniela Acquaro, director of initial teacher education at the University of Melbourne. “Kids really have spent a lot of 2020 with parents and carers.”

She says it’s important to talk to students about anything that’s troubling them.

If they’re reluctant to talk, encouraging them to draw a picture, write or use a few words to describe their feelings can be helpful to pinpoint the problem, Grove says.

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From there you can develop a strategy together to tackle any sticky situations.

“Give them some clear steps. If you don’t have anybody to play with, what’s the first thing you could do?”

Acquaro says while it’s important to reassure them that feeling nervous or a little anxious is perfectly normal, it’s important not to brush off concerns. She says there’s usually a reason why your child might be feeling stressed.

“They might feel, ‘I’m not happy where I’m sitting, I don’t feel comfortable, I’m a bit scared of the teacher, or I don’t have friends’.”

If your child or teenager is feeling anxious over a prolonged period of time, Acquaro suggests speaking to the class teacher or year level coordinator, who will often have great strategies up their sleeve.

Signs of stress to look out for include sleep problems, regular tears, fidgeting or avoiding activities, says Grove.

Helping to develop a sense of belonging

Reconnecting with their friends and school community is important for students’ mental health, especially after the year we’ve just had, says Grove.

She suggests thinking about different ways you can support your child to be social, such as encouraging them to travel to and from school with friends, or to set up a homework club.

And while the new year may be a little nerve-inducing at first, Grove says it’s important to teach kids that “being courageous and brave and nervous and worried at the same time is OK and completely normal”.

“So you can be nervous, but still go to school and have a really good time.”