The Emotional Impact of the End of the Academic Year on Children

As the school year draws to a close, lots of children experience a whirlwind of emotions. While many look forward to the freedom of summer holidays, the transition can also bring stress, uncertainty, and emotional upheaval. Understanding the impact of this time can help all support children through the transition with empathy and understanding, children’s behaviour gives us clues that they could be struggling. 

Emotions children may be feeling as the year comes to an end: 

1. Anxiety About Change

Children often thrive on routine and structure, and the end of the academic year marks a significant disruption. The shift away from familiar teachers, classmates, and daily routines can lead to fears and worries, especially for younger children or those who struggle with change.

2. Sadness and Loss

Leaving behind a classroom environment can evoke feelings of sadness and grief. Children may miss their teachers, friends, and the comfort of a known environment, and how things are done. These feelings are normal and can be more intense for children who have formed strong emotional attachments, and struggle with change.

3. Pressure and tiredness

The final weeks of school often come with, change in routine,  tests, assessments, and play, outings, sports days, and ending advents.  Children may feel overwhelmed by the years academic pressure and or exhausted from the cumulative of the year. This will natural impact children’s ability to manage there strong emotions, behaviour, and motivation.

4. Excitement and Relief

For many children, summer represents freedom, fun, and relaxation, family holidays. These positive feelings can be alongside more challenging emotions, creating a complex psychological mix that varies from child to child.

Supporting Children Through the Transition

1. Acknowledge Mixed Emotions

Validate children’s feelings, whether they’re excited, sad, anxious, or all of the above. Let them know it’s okay to have conflicting emotions about the end of the school year.

2. Maintain Predictability

As school routines wind down, try to maintain consistency at home. Keeping regular bedtimes, mealtimes, and family rituals can provide a sense of security.

3. Reflect on the Year Together

Help children process their experience by talking about what they learned, their proudest moments, and the friendships they built. Creating a memory book or end-of-year letter can be a meaningful way to mark the transition. These can include the certificates I have received, positive comments from parents evening, 

4. Prepare for What’s Next

If your child is changing schools or classrooms, talk positively about what they can expect. Visit the new school, look at photos. Let school know child is struggling so they can add in more time to get to know new classroom etc. Same children will need visuals photos to help then get to the start of new year.

5. Encourage Rest and Recharging

Give children time to unwind and decompress at the start of summer. Avoid overscheduling their break with activities right away—unstructured time is valuable for emotional rand physical recovery.

A Time of Growth and Opportunity

The end of the academic year is more than just a finish line; it’s a pivotal developmental moment. With the right support, children can navigate this transition with resilience and emerge with a greater sense of confidence and self-awareness. By tuning into their emotional needs, we empower them to close one chapter and look forward to the next with hope and readiness.

Written by Caroline Ovens, Child & Family Therapist

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