Success at School- Transitions with Connection in Mind
Back-to-school season can stir up anxiety, fear, or even grief for children who’ve experienced loss or trauma. While many kids feel “first day jitters,” foster, adoptive, and kinship kids may feel dysregulated by the change in routine, unfamiliar adults, or social pressure.
Parent Tip: Take 5 minutes each morning for predictable connection—a hug, a silly handshake, a short devotional, or lunchbox notes that remind them they are safe, loved, and not alone.
Why It Matters: Emotional connection fuels regulation. A child’s brain learns best when they feel safe. Prioritizing attachment rituals, even in small ways, can reduce meltdowns, improve focus, and give you a touchpoint if the school day goes sideways.
Other helpful hints you can use:
Create a "Introduction Profile" for Your Child’s Teacher
Summarize your child’s strengths, triggers, regulation strategies, and what helps them feel safe.
This gives educators a trauma-informed lens from day one.
Build a Transition Toolbox
Create a toolbox that includes a comfort item, a sensory tool, or use a visual calendar at home to prepare for the schedule shift.
Regulate First, Problem-Solve Later
Don't forget: troubling after-school behavior (like tantrums or withdrawal) might be a sign of emotional overload, not defiance.
Practice the Drop-Off
For younger or anxious children, visit the school ahead of time, walk through routines, and rehearse drop-off to build familiarity.
Back-to-school transitions are never “one-size-fits-all,” and what works for one family may look different for another. If you’d like more support tailored to your child’s unique story, The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic offers parent coaching designed for your specific context. Our clinicians—many of whom are adoptive parents themselves—can help you build practical strategies for connection, regulation, and resilience at home and at school.
Call us at [205-326-7553] to schedule a coaching session or learn more about how we can walk alongside your family this school year.
You are not alone—together, we can help your child feel safe, supported, and ready to thrive.