Let’s all collectively exhale.
(No, like really… do it right now.)
Because summer? It has been a lot.
Maybe it flew by in a blur of popsicles, sunscreen battles, and last-minute road trips. Or maybe it dragged with too much screen time, overstimulation, and meltdowns in the grocery store parking lot (no judgment). However it felt, one thing’s for sure: the school year is coming… fast.
And whether you’re a parent, teacher, counselor, or just someone who deeply cares about kids, the back-to-school transition can feel overwhelming. A messy mix of excitement, dread, to-do lists, and questions like "How are we going to make it through another year?"
The answer? We slow down, check in, and start where we are.
Step One: Check In With Yourself First
You know that whole “put your own oxygen mask on first” thing? It applies here too. Before we can support the kids in our lives, we have to tend to our own nervous systems.
Ask yourself:
- What am I holding right now?
- Where do I feel that tension? In my jaw, shoulders, stomach?
- What would feel grounding today? (A deep breath. A short walk. A real meal.)
You don’t have to overhaul your entire routine. Start with one grounding moment a day. Even 30 seconds of silence in the car before pickup can help reset your brain.
Step Two: Use The Kids Wheel (Even if It’s Just for 5 Minutes)
Here’s the truth: Kids can’t name what they don’t have language for.
That’s why our new Kids Wheel exists. It’s a simple and powerful tool, because it helps kids point to what’s happening inside them before it explodes outside of them.
Here’s how you can use it (without making it a whole production):
- Morning check-ins: Stick it on the fridge. Ask, “How are you feeling this morning?” while pouring cereal.
- After-school decompression: Let them point to a feeling instead of asking “How was your day?” (which, let’s be real, never works).
- Bedtime reflection: Choose a color or section together and talk about one thing that brought that feeling up today.
The goal isn’t to fix their emotions. It’s to notice them. And remind your kid (or student, or client) that feelings aren’t bad, they’re just information.
Step Three: Expect the Wobble
Transitions are hard for everyone. So let’s set the bar real low for the first few weeks of school.
Your kid might cry more. Or act out. Or shut down. You might lose your patience. Forget appointments. Eat cereal for dinner three nights in a row. That’s all part of it.
This doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re adjusting.
Let “soft landings” be the goal. Not perfection. Not productivity. Just slow, supported transition into what’s next.
Step Four: Create a “Feelings Routine”
We prep school supplies and lunchboxes, but what about emotional prep?
Try this:
- Anchor one emotional check-in into your day. Maybe it's before school, after dinner, or in the car. Use The Kids Wheel or just ask, “What’s one feeling you had today?”
- Model naming your own emotions. “I felt overwhelmed when we were running late this morning.” That normalizes feelings and helps kids do the same.
- Celebrate emotional honesty. When a child says “I felt jealous” or “I felt nervous,” don’t rush to fix it. Validate it. That’s the win.
Step Five: Keep It Simple. Keep It Human.
The truth? You don’t need another Pinterest chart or color-coded calendar. You need moments of connection. A few deep breaths. A willingness to say, “This is hard, and we’re doing it anyway.”
Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean back to burnout.
Let’s choose more emotional wellness this year… starting with ourselves.
