“My Child Is Struggling With the End of School” - Why Endings Can Feel So Big for Children.
Updated: Jul 23
As the school year comes to an end, many children experience a mixture of emotions.
While some children feel excited about summer or moving on to the next stage, others may become anxious, emotional, withdrawn, or unsettled.
For children, endings can feel much bigger than adults sometimes realise - https://www.silentstories.co.uk/how-we-help/school-anxiety
Why Endings Can Be Difficult for Children:
Children often rely on routine, familiarity, and predictable relationships to feel safe and secure.
The end of a school year can involve:
Saying goodbye to teachers,
Separation from friends,
Changes in routine,
Fear of the unknown,
Worries about what comes next.
So change can feel overwhelming emotionally.
And endings can also trigger memories of previous endings, good and bad.
Children don’t always say:
“I’m worried about school ending.”
Instead, you might notice:
Increased emotional outbursts,
Anxiety or clinginess,
Changes in sleep,
Withdrawal or quietness,
Irritability or frustration.
These behaviours can be a child’s way of processing uncertainty, change and previous endings.
Play therapy provides children with a safe and supportive space to explore feelings linked to change, endings, and uncertainty.
Through play, the child's natural method of communicating, and the therapeutic relationship, children can begin to process past and present experiences in a way that feels manageable and developmentally appropriate.
Play therapy can help children:
Feel emotionally supported during transitions,
Express worries safely,
Build emotional resilience,
Develop confidence around change.
Supporting children and teenagers age 3-18 years.
At Silent Stories, we offer play therapy in Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, Dumbartonshire and South Glasgow, supporting children through emotional challenges, transitions, and difficult experiences.
How Silent Stories Can Help
If your child is struggling with anxiety, school attendance, emotional regulation or behavioural difficulties, learn more about our specialist support services:
If your child seems overwhelmed by endings or change, support can help. Reach out today for an informal discussion - www.silentstories.co.uk
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