21/01/2026
Back-to-school 2026:
Gary Landreth said “I hear you, I see you, and I care.”
Parents, you are seen and heard right now.
Back-to-school time brings excitement and worry for your child and you.
****Talk about feelings with your child.
Acknowledge what they feel without judging it.
Say:
• “It’s okay to feel nervous about a new routine.”
• “I noticed you seem excited about seeing friends.”
• “I hear you when you say school feels big right now.”
****Create meaningful rituals to ease the transition.
Rituals give children a sense of safety and predictability.
Some examples:
• First-day backpack photo and small note in their lunchbox.
• A consistent morning rhythm the week before school starts.
• After-school check-in question like “What made you feel proud today?”
• Friday afternoon family walk or snack to celebrate the first week done.
****Helpful Queensland resources for parents:
• Queensland Education “Starting at a new school” info and practical tips for building confidence and routines. Visit Education Queensland’s Starting at a new school page.
https://education.qld.gov.au/parents-and-carers/starting-at-a-new-school?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• Queensland Government “Starting school resources” with guides and activities to support positive transitions. Explore Starting school resources for families.
https://earlychildhood.qld.gov.au/earlyYears/transitions/moving-to-school/Pages/starting-school-resources.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• Queensland Back to School Boost and voucher support info for school costs and sports activities. See Back to School relief details:
https://www.qld.gov.au/backtoschool?utm_source=chatgpt.com
You’re not doing this alone.
Alison
