If first-day-of-school jitters come between your kid and a good night’s sleep, try these soothing solutions.

Acknowledge feelings. Explain that it’s natural to feel nervous about school, and that most kids feel this way. Tell your child the jitters she feels may mean she’s looking forward to something, but she’s nervous because it’s a new situation. Then remind her of a time in the past when she was anxious that turned into a fun or positive experience.

Create a kiss cue. Before bedtime, plant a “bracelet” of kisses all around your child’s wrist. Then have her re-kiss the circle of kisses to seal them in place. Press your thumb on each kiss spot to lock it in. She can touch her secret bracelet throughout the next school day to calm herself.

Go by the book. For younger kids, it may be helpful to see first-day jitters from a third-party perspective. So read a bedtime book about characters making new friends at school (see here)—which will remind your little bundle of nerves to enjoy tomorrow.

Source: Sunny Im-Wang, PsyD, pediatric psychologist and author of Happy, Sad & Everything in Between: All About My Feelings