Getting back out into society and our lives after lockdown can be a stressful and anxious exercise, especially for children. It's important that we take our time and communicate with our kids to be aware that the world has changed yet we can do little things that will make a big difference.

Some little things that can help with the transition might include packing a small hand sanitiser in their school bag and including all utensils (we love our bamboo spork) so they have everything they need. This is probably a great time to throw a sweet note in their lunch box to tell them how special and proud of them you are (if they can read) as everyone needs ongoing support and encouragement.

Despite social distancing, we need to ensure our kids still have the magic ingredient of connection - with their friends and special people - so they have the tools to get through these uncertain times and build their resilience muscle. Kids see everything that's going on so you want to be sure they understand to their level what is in their control and what is not.

Heading back to school can be daunting as the world has changed and we don't always know what's going on in their minds. We need to keep the communication flowing and check in with them regularly especially with anxiety levels at an all time high. The NZ author, Avril McDonald, has a magical series of books, Feel Brave, that are little stories for big feelings. Her Feel Brave Emotion Cards are an encouraging way to bring play and fun to expressing how you feel. You can even order a set of the books for your school as you won't want to miss one.

I'm making a point of watching the film Inside Out again with my kids as it's a magical lesson of how we need the good and the bad to move through things towards a purpose and meaningful life. This is a good lesson for all of us, not just the kids, so we'll reinforce what we need to do as we teach and check in with our kids. I think all humans are coming out of the pandemic as better humans and this will only make our planet even more magical.