Welcome to Ask Dr. Harvey Karp, our fatherhood advice column at Esquire , where the author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and creator of the SNOO answers your burning questions about parenting . Got a query? Drop us a line in the comments.

For a kid, starting a new school may feel a little like moving to a new planet. The air smells different, the natives have their own language, and the customs are…mysterious. Even for confident kids, transitions can stir up a tangle of excitement, nerves, and “please-don’t-make-me” resistance.

And for parents? Well, watching your little one wobble into the unknown can stir up some jitters of your own. Will they make friends? Will they eat lunch? Will they make it to the bathroom?

The Big Feelings Behind Back-to-School Behaviors

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