The start of the school year is a time of adjustment for many children and families. New routines, new classrooms and renewed social expectations can bring excitement, but they can also place emotional demands on children that are not always easy to spot.
February is a valuable moment for parents and carers to pause, observe and gently check in. Not just about learning, but about how children are feeling emotionally, socially and online. Most parents want to support their child well. The challenge is that it is not always obvious how.
Children’s mental health is not about looking for something to be wrong. It is about noticing changes, trusting your instincts, and staying connected. It is important to be able to understand age-appropriate behaviour and offer support early when something seems different from your child/ren’s norm.
Why This Time of Year Can Feel Big
Returning to school often means:
• New teachers or classrooms
• Changes in friendship groups
• Moving from holiday freedom back to structure
• Increased academic expectations
• Earlier mornings and busier days
For some children, this transition feels smooth. For others, it can feel overwhelming, even if they cannot explain why.¹
As parents, it is common to wonder:
“Is this just adjusting?”
“Am I overthinking?”
“Should I step in, or give it time?”
Those questions are normal.
What to Look Out For: Primary School–Aged Children
Primary school children often do not have the breadth of language to clearly explain all the layers of emotional distress. Let’s be real here, many adults don’t either. Instead, emotions often show up in behaviour or physical complaints.
How Feelings Often Show Up
- Increased clinginess or separation anxiety
- Frequent tummy aches or headaches without a clear cause
- Emotional outbursts or tearfulness after school
- Regression in behaviour, such as toileting accidents or sleep difficulties
- Irritability or frustration with tasks that were previously manageable
- Changes in play, such as withdrawal from friends
These signs often reflect children feeling overwhelmed rather than something being “wrong”. For many, reassurance, routine and time help symptoms settle.²
How parents can support primary school children
- Keep routines predictable, especially around sleep and meals
- Allow time to talk or decompress after school, even through play rather than conversation
- Encourage outdoor play and movement, which supports emotional regulation³
- Limit screen use, particularly before bedtime
- Reassure children that feelings change and being their place of calm can provide an environment where they can learn to self-regulate.
What to Look Out For: High School–Aged Children
Adolescence brings new pressures. Academic demands increase. Social comparison intensifies. Identity is forming. Emotional dysregulation or distress in teenagers may be less obvious and more internalised.
Teenagers may not always talk openly about what is going on. You might notice:
- Withdrawal from family or friends
- Increased irritability, anger or low mood
- Changes in sleep patterns, including sleeping much more or much less
- Loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed
- Increased anxiety around school or friendships
- Heavy or compulsive phone use, especially late at night
- Declining school engagement or academic performance
Teenagers often protect their independence, which can make it harder for parents to know when to step in. Teenagers may also minimise or hide distress, making observation and ongoing connection particularly important.⁴
How Parents Can Support Without Pushing Away
- Schedule regular low-pressure check-ins
- Ask open questions rather than yes or no ones
- Show genuine interest in their online world
- Set boundaries collaboratively where possible
- Encourage balance between study, rest, movement and social time
- Model healthy digital habits at home
Connection matters more than perfection.
Screens, Social Media and the Pressure to Get It Right
Digital technology is everywhere. For most families, screens are part of daily life, used for learning, connection, play and communication. As a parent, you might find yourself caught between wanting your child to benefit from technology and worrying about what is or isn’t too much screen time and what it might mean for their wellbeing.
This tension is normal and deeply human. You are trying to protect your child, but you also live in a world where screens are ubiquitous. It’s okay to feel uncertain about how much is too much, and it’s okay to want support in navigating this without judgement.
Technology can be a powerful tool:
- It helps children stay connected with friends
- It can support learning and creativity
- It can be a shared part of family life
At the same time, we know that excessive or unregulated use can be linked with difficulties such as disrupted sleep, increased anxiety and lowered mood, especially when screens replace sleep or face-to-face social time.³
What matters most is balance, connection and intention, not perfection.
How do the New Social Media Age Rules Help?
In Australia, new laws now require social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts on many major services.⁵ The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has supported these age restrictions, acknowledging that research links prolonged social media use with negative effects on sleep and wellbeing among young people. At the same time, they have emphasised that restricting access is not a complete solution on its own. Parents, carers, educators and health professionals all have a role to play in helping children navigate the online world safely and thoughtfully.⁶
Importantly, the RACGP’s position reflects a broader reality many parents feel: this is not about “blaming families” but about recognising that children are growing up in a world that didn’t exist for most adults when they were young, and that supporting their digital health takes community wide understanding and collaboration.
Thinking about screens this way can relieve pressure. Instead of trying to eliminate screens, consider:
- Encouraging device-free sleep routines and sleep environments
- Opening calm conversations about online dos and don’ts, and sharing experiences
- Creating shared family activities that do not involve screens
- Helping children learn digital skills that support their wellbeing
- Having regular discussions with your child’s educator about the school’s use of digital technology and expectations on students, so you can identify what “balance” looks like outside of school hours.
- Have open communication with parents from your child’s peer group
These steps don’t fix every worry, but playing an active role in supporting your child’s digital health can help your child to feel supported instead of isolated in their online world.
When to Seek Extra Support
Consider speaking with your GP if:
- Emotional or behavioural changes persist or worsen
- Sleep difficulties continue despite routine changes
- Screen use feels unmanageable
- Your child expresses distress, hopelessness or withdrawal
Early support can make a meaningful difference for both children and families.² Its also important to know there are a number of organisations available:
📞 24/7 Crisis and Immediate Support
- Emergency Services: Call 000 if your child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm.
- Lifeline: 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention — 13 11 14, or text 0477 13 11 14 / online chat available.
- Suicide Call Back Service: 24/7 professional support for anyone affected by suicidal thoughts — 1300 659 467.
- 13YARN: Culturally-supportive crisis line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (via Lifeline partnership).
- If your child is under 15 and in crisis: Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800 (24/7) specifically for children and young people.
🧠 Child and Youth Mental Health Support
- headspace – National youth mental health foundation (12–25 yrs), online chat, phone support and in-person centres — 1800 650 890.
- Parent Line NSW: Free counselling and support for parents/carers of children aged 0–18 — 1300 1300 52 (NSW).
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): Local public health services in states like NSW providing specialist mental health care for under-18s.
- Medicare Mental Health Centres & Kids Hubs: Free drop-in mental health services and support — 1800 595 212.
- Youth Focus (WA): Support and referral services for young people — contact local lines or call emergency services if in immediate danger.
🧑🤝🧑 Other Support and Information Services
- Beyond Blue — Phone and online support for depression, anxiety and related concerns — 1300 22 4636.
- State Mental Health Access Lines: e.g. in Queensland 1300 MH CALL (1300 642 255) for public mental health referral and triage.
- Raising Children Network: Easy-read info on supports for children and teens’ mental health (including helpline contacts).
References
- headspace. (2023). Children, teens and mental health. https://headspace.org.au
- Black Dog Institute. (2023). Recognising mental health concerns in children. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
- Beyond Blue. (2023). Social media, screens and mental health. https://www.beyondblue.org.au
- Black Dog Institute. (2023). Teens, screens and mental health. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/teens-screens/parents/
- eSafety Commissioner. (2024). Social media age restrictions. https://www.esafety.gov.au
