It’s Sunday night, and instead of relaxing, your child is suddenly cranky, clingy, or quiet. Sound familiar? The Sunday Scaries aren’t just for adults. Many kids experience anxiety as the weekend winds down and the school week looms ahead. So how can you help ease their worries?

Why Sunday Anxiety Happens

Sunday anxiety in children often stems from uncertainty—new schoolwork, social pressures, or simply the shift from freedom to routine. According to the Child Mind Institute, kids who are prone to worry may begin to anticipate the challenges of the week ahead, triggering real symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, or trouble sleeping (Child Mind Institute, 2023).

Even younger children can struggle with the transition. After a weekend of connection and freedom, the thought of early mornings, structured time, and separation from caregivers can be overwhelming. This is especially true for kids with separation anxiety or social anxiety (AACAP, 2022).

Why Storytelling Helps with Anxiety

Storytelling gives kids a safe way to explore their feelings. Through fictional characters and imagined challenges, they can:

• 🗣 Safely express emotions without judgment
• 🛡 Build resilience by watching characters overcome fears
• 🌱 Gain confidence as they imagine positive outcomes

Research from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child shows that storytelling helps children process complex emotions and improve emotional regulation (Harvard University, 2020). It’s not just creative—it’s developmental.

A Simple Story-Based Solution

Try this with your child on Sunday afternoon:

🧠 Ask them to create a story about an animal who’s feeling nervous about a big week ahead.
🎯 Prompt them to name the challenge—maybe the animal has to present in class or face a tricky obstacle.
💪 Then ask: How does the animal find courage and overcome it?

This gives your child the emotional distance to express their fears while also building a path forward.

📱 Want a little help getting started? Try using StoryMii. With just a few taps, your child can create a custom story where their worries take shape as characters—and learn how those characters overcome obstacles, build confidence, and grow. It’s screen time that supports emotional growth. You’re not just calming their Sunday blues—you’re giving them tools to face Monday with confidence.

Why This Works

✅ Emotional safety: It’s easier to talk about “a brave turtle” than “me”
✅ Rehearsal for real life: They practice solutions through story
✅ Resilience-building: Kids realize they’re capable of handling hard things

So the next time the Sunday Scaries creep in, try a new kind of bedtime story—one that helps your child see themselves as the hero in their own week.

Sources:

• Child Mind Institute (2023). "How to Help Kids with Anxiety About School." childmind.org
• AACAP (2022). "Facts for Families: School Refusal." aacap.org
• Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child (2020). "How Children and Adults Can Build Core Capabilities for Life." developingchild.harvard.edu