Mental Health & Wellbeing
Welcome to 2026 school year! The start of the school year, whether returning as a ‘seasoned’ student or as a new Prep, is often a very exciting time. However, it’s also normal for children to feel nervous about starting or returning to school. With new teachers and classmates to meet, new environments and routines to get used to, and new skills to learn, each term can bring with it a sense of change and uncertainty.
There are a range of potential stresses that children might experience when returning to school after the holidays or a long absence. These include:
- Separation anxiety from parents, carers or family members
- Worries about peers and friendship groups
- Fears about social isolation and not fitting in
- Discomfort in crowded/noisy/unfamiliar situations
- Concerns about new teachers and class groups
Families can help children with back-to-school anxiety by:
- Having relaxed and open conversations to identify their concerns, and taking small steps towards addressing them.
- Acknowledging your child’s emotions, providing validation and showing them that you understand their concerns.
- Help your child to come up with a list of ways to manage their anxiety and support them to practise these strategies both when they’re feeling anxious and when they’re not.
- Practising new routines together.
- During the first few weekends after school returns, engage in family activities to ease the transition from holiday time to school term time.
Click on this link for 8 tips to help your child manage back-to-school anxiety from the Emerging Minds website.
The Loddon Children’s Health & Wellbeing Local offers free weekly education sessions that address mental health and wellbeing. Sessions are each Wednesday and available to parents or carers of children aged 0-11. These are available in person. The session is run by a mental health or allied health clinician.
Sessions are open to any parents or carers of children aged 0-11.
Why join in?
- Talk to Local staff about your child.
- Ask any practical questions you have about parenting now.
- Gain support for yourself as a parent.
Where: The Loddon Children’s Health & Wellbeing Local, 19 Helm Street, Kangaroo Flat, 3555. Note: Enter via the green porch at the back of the site.
Dates and Topics: Wednesdays at 9.30am
- Feb 11 – ADHD What is it and how can I help?
- Feb 18 – What is autism and how can I help?
- Feb 25 – Parent wellbeing
- March 4 – Sensory processing
- March 11 – Managing big feelings
- March 18 – Tech troubles
- March 25 – Setting limits and family rules
If you have any questions, please contact Annette Clemments on 1800 433 977.
Follow this link to book: https://loddonchwl.com.au/event/parent-support-and-education-sessions-term-1-2026/ or email icfhwlocals@bchs.com.au to book your place.