Preschoolers or kindergarten students often feel nervous about their first days and weeks of school. Or their first month of school. Even older kids may feel anxious about a new teacher, new friends, or just getting back into a more rigorous schedule after a long and lazy summer. Or maybe they’re feeling anxiety a few weeks into the school year as the reality of fall sets in.
While family discussions should help ease their worries, I also love the idea of giving kids a little gift that can help ease anxieties about school. I put together seven items here that can serve as thoughtful reminders that you’re thinking of them all day — or simply, you’ve got this!
But hey, whatever works for your kid — that’s the very best idea of all.
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7 Small Items to Comfort Kids on the First Days of School
I like the idea of helping your child feel connected to you on their first day of school with a parent-and-me matching set of jewelry. We love the parent/child wish bracelet sets from Bella Elisheva on Etsy because they’re not mom/dad specific (unless you want them to be), it’s gender-neutral for all kids with charms ranging from hearts to stars to animals, and there are lots of colors. She even makes ones specific to the student’s grade — be sure look around her shop for tons of great ideas.
Related: Wonderful mindfulness podcasts made just for anxious kids,
Reading a book that depicts exactly how you’re feeling too can work wonders for kids, helping to easy anxieties and knowing you’re not alone with your questions or fears. Check out our wonderful roundup of children’s books about anxiety: for kids worry about the world around them, including Tom Percival’s excellent Ruby Finds a Worry, above.
We also love I Am Not Scared, the 2017 release from Geissel-winning author Anna Kang, who uses charming illustrations and a lot of humor to make the point that trying new things may not be as scary as we expect. Also look at Francesca Sanna’s beautiful book Me and My Fear, because it helps kids understand that fear is actually a good feeling to have. Or tuck a copy of Kevin Henkes’s Wemberly Worried into their backpack. This story of an anxious little mouse who worries about her first day of school is a terrific reminder that they will be a-okay.
Related: 5 tested tips for handling separation anxiety, from parents who have been there
Preschoolers with naptime at school may do well with a lovey or a special toy or doll from home. We love this personalized minkie dot nap pillow for preschoolers, from The Colorful Chicken on Etsy. They may even enjoy picking out their own colors, so they have something else to look forrward to. Pottery Barn Kids also has a large selection of nap mats, lots at clearance prices right now. Or if your student has outgrown their baby toys or toddler lovey, try one that’s a little more “big kid” like a Paw Patrol plush or a small Squishmallow.
A tattoo may be the trick to give kids a visual reminder that helps get them through the school day. We like the temporary tattoos from the Tattly kids collection like the one above. They can be a little expensive because they’re safely made and support independent artists. On Amazon, we found affordable packs of kids’ temporary tattoo hearts, try a temporary tattoo pack featuring their favorite cartoon superhero to give them super strength!
The Fube silent fidget cube was originally designed to help relieve anxiety and makes a perfect gift to give a child on the first day of school to help with anxiety and sensory processing. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket and importantly, it’s quiet. Just give your child’s teacher a heads-up first. There are some super cheap ones available, but this one gets high marks for durability.
We first wrote about Worry Eaters Dolls years ago, and they’re still available in several adorable styles as the original Sorgenfresser (Worry Eater) Doll on Amazon. Write down a child’s worry, zip it in the mouth, and it will take it off their hands. (Aw.)
Whether you’re using these free printable lunchbox notes from Lil Luna — or any of the 16 free printable lunchbox notes we shared a while back, don’t overlook the amazing power of your own words on paper. Hey, even a colorful Post-It or a punny sticky note made for kids works! What’s important are the words of love and encouragement you write. In fact, don’t be surprised if your child ends up with a collection of them that they save until they’ve got kids of their own. Sniff.
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