🎒School Starter
The uniform is laid out. The bag is packed. But their face at bedtime tells you everything — they're not ready, and no amount of 'it'll be fine' is going to change that.
What's actually happening
School transition anxiety affects an estimated 25–40% of children starting primary school (Dockett & Perry, 2007). It peaks in the week before school starts and typically resolves within 2–6 weeks for most children. The anxiety isn't irrational — starting school is one of the largest routine changes a young child faces. Ladd & Price (1987) found that children who had rehearsed school scenarios in advance showed better social adjustment and fewer anxious behaviours during the transition period.
What parents usually try
Reassurance ('It'll be fine')
Well-meaning but dismissive of real feelings. Bögels & Phares (2008) found that acknowledging anxiety rather than minimising it led to faster resolution.
Overselling ('You'll love it!')
Creates pressure to feel happy. If the first day is hard, the child may feel they've failed at something everyone else finds easy.
Detailed explanations of the schedule
Helpful for some children, but too much information can increase anticipatory anxiety in younger kids (Muris et al., 2002).
What actually helps
Bibliotherapy lets the child rehearse the experience emotionally. The story doesn't promise school will be perfect — it shows a character feeling nervous, noticing small manageable details, and finding one thing that feels okay. This mirrors the cognitive-behavioural technique of 'graduated exposure in imagination' (Kendall, 1994). The child processes the anxiety in a safe context before encountering the real situation. Heath et al. (2005) found bibliotherapy particularly effective for anticipatory anxiety in children aged 4–7.
How this story works
Bibliotherapy helps children rehearse experiences before they happen. Hearing a character navigate school — and come out okay — gives your child an emotional roadmap for their own first day.
What your child hears
A character with your child's name walks through the school gate feeling nervous. They notice small, good things — a friendly face, a familiar game. By the end, school isn't scary. It's just new.
When to use this story
In the weeks leading up to the first day of school
The night before, as a bedtime story
After a difficult drop-off, to process the experience
When changing schools or classrooms
When anxiety resurfaces after holidays or breaks
After the story
The story is the beginning. Here's how to keep it going:
“What are you excited about?”
“What will you do if nervous?”
“Who can you ask for help?”
Try this
Visit playground before first day
The research behind this approach(show)
Therapeutic stories for life transitions like potty training, school anxiety, and new siblings.
- Shechtman, Z. (2009). Treating Child and Adolescent Aggression Through Bibliotherapy. Springer.
- Pardeck, J. T. (1994). Using literature to help adolescents cope with problems. Adolescence.
- Heath, M. A., et al. (2005). Bibliotherapy: A resource to facilitate emotional healing. School Psychology International.