Almost half of Australian parents say the return to school feels more stressful this year, with screen fatigue, disrupted routines and chaotic mornings emerging as key pressure points for families heading into Term 1.
New national research from HP Australia, released on 21 January, found 59 per cent of parents find the back-to-school period stressful, while 47 per cent say 2026 feels more stressful than previous years.
The survey of more than 1,000 parents of school-aged children highlights how the first weeks of Term 1 often bring arguments, tears, forgotten items and last-minute panic as families attempt to re-establish school routines after the long summer break.
Parents report the strain is most visible in the early days of term, when households are adjusting sleep schedules, managing school logistics and transitioning children away from holiday habits.
Leading Australian child psychologist Ms Deirdre Brandner says the findings reflect what she sees in practice each year.
“In the weeks leading into the school year, I see a predictable rise in stress, not just in children, but in parents as well,” she said. “Back-to-school anxiety rarely presents as panic. Instead, it shows up quietly: disrupted sleep, short tempers, reluctance at drop-off, headaches or stomach aches, emotional shutdown in teens, or children who ‘hold it together’ all day and unravel at home.”
The research points to holiday screen habits as a major contributor to back-to-school stress. Nearly two-thirds of parents (65 per cent) say increased screen time during the summer holidays makes the transition back to school harder.
At the same time, 83 per cent of parents say they want to reduce their child’s screen time as Term 1 begins, suggesting a strong appetite for screen-light approaches to organisation and routines.
Parents were also clear about what they believe would make the start of the school year easier. Almost nine in ten (87 per cent) want the year ahead to feel simpler, calmer or more organised, while 84 per cent say ready-made, printable tools such as planners and checklists would help them feel more prepared.
More than eight in ten parents (83 per cent) believe clearer routines or visual checklists would reduce arguments and stress at home.
Ms Brandner recommends a series of simple, screen-light strategies to support families through the transition, including resetting sleep routines at least a week before school returns, preparing bags and lunches the night before, and allowing children time to decompress after school.
She also encourages parents to use pressure-reducing language and to support organisation collaboratively, rather than taking over.
The findings suggest many families prefer tangible tools over additional digital solutions. Nearly four in five parents (79 per cent) say printed reminders such as planners and checklists help mornings run more smoothly, while 76 per cent prefer printed, visible planners over adding more digital apps.
“As a former school principal, I know how challenging the back-to-school period can be for families,” said Mr Brett Salakas, HP’s Education Ambassador. “When children feel confident and ready to learn, everything changes. With the right tools, simple routines and organisation can turn rushed mornings into calm moments of connection, helping kids head to school on the right foot.”
The research was conducted by YouGov between 5 and 10 December 2025 among 1,039 Australian parents of children aged 5 to 17, with data weighted by gender and region to reflect national population estimates.
