For many kids, anxiety kicks in weeks before school even starts.

They begin to worry about who their teacher will be, who's in their class, and if they'll be able to handle the new challenges of the upcoming grade. The transition to high school is especially overwhelming, with so many adjustments to navigate.

During this time, kids can experience a mix of emotions—excitement to see their friends but also deep nervousness about the unknown. It’s important to let them know that these feelings are normal and can happen simultaneously.

Join me today as we explore tips and strategies to help our kids navigate the the start back to school.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

• Back to School Transition and Big Feelings (00:00 )
• The Role of Oxytocin and Cortisol (02:49 )
• Establishing Routines and Rituals (04:49 )
• Predicting and Preparing for Challenges (05:49 )
• Handling Social Adjustments and Building Resilience (11:53 )
• Connecting with Children and Building Emotional Intelligence (14:19 )
• Final Tips and Resources (14:32 )

Meet Jennifer Kolari



Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in th US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).