Now for the feelings.

Because school isn’t just about numbers and phonics - it’s full of tiny social moments that take big emotional energy.

Practising emotional skills at home can help your child feel calm and capable - and make you feel like less of a referee.

1. Everyone learns to pause before chaos.
When children learn to recognise their feelings and calm themselves, things don’t escalate so fast.

Real-life Wins: Instead of launching a toy at their sibling, they say, “I’m angry!” and stomp off to their safe corner. Boom - emotional maturity.

2. Siblings get along better (mostly).
Less snatching, fewer stand-offs. More sharing, turn-taking, and compromise - or at least, attempted compromise.

Real-life Wins: “Can I have it after you?” replaces “MINE!” followed by a wrestling match. You only need to intervene twice instead of ten times.

3. Parents model calm... and actually feel calmer.
When you’ve got shared strategies, you stop feeling like you’re winging it and there’s predictability for the kids.

Real-life Wins: Instead of shouting, you say, “Everybody stop and take one big deep breath. Now force a smile while we sort this out.” And weirdly, it works.

4. It grows independence and trust.
Confident kids take on small challenges themselves - and that confidence follows them into Reception.

Real-life Wins: You send them into a birthday party and they don’t cling to your leg like a koala. You actually wave proudly from the snack table.

Part 2: Emotional Wins

Now for the feelings.

Because school isn’t just about numbers and phonics - it’s full of tiny social moments that take big emotional energy.

Practising emotional skills at home can help your child feel calm and capable - and make you feel like less of a referee.