The start of a new school year can be exciting with fresh notebooks, new teachers, and seeing friends again. But for many children, this transition also brings feelings of anxiety, worry, or even fear. Back-to-school anxiety is very common, and understanding why it happens is the first step in helping kids feel more at ease.

Fear of flying, also known as aerophobia or aviophobia, is surprisingly common in the UK. According to TUI, around 1 in 10 British adults experience significant anxiety related to air travel. Anxiety UK supports this, estimating around 10% of the population has a serious fear of flying, with some studies suggesting even higher prevalence.

That translates to over 6 million people in the UK living with real distress at the thought, let alone the reality of boarding a plane. What’s more, YouGov data shows that 41% of those with fear-of-flying say their phobia is so intense they avoid long-haul holidays altogether. Many miss out on family trips, weddings, or work travel because of it.

Losing a parent is one of the most heart-breaking experiences a child can go through. When a child is grieving, they often don’t have the words to explain what they’re feeling, but their bodies and behaviours tell the story. Trouble sleeping. Tummy aches. Sudden outbursts. Withdrawal. These are all common signs of anxiety, worry, and sadness in children trying to process grief.

We recently heard from a parent who shared the emotional story of their children’s journey after losing their dad, and how a Calmness Crew plushie became an unexpected source of comfort during their darkest moments.

I’m thrilled to share some incredible news with our amazing community!

Our mission to support children’s mental health through the Calmness Crew—our range of mental health, voice-guided, weighted plushies, just received a huge boost. We were chosen by none other than Theo Paphitis, entrepreneur and former Dragon from Dragon’s Den, as one of the winners of his Small Business Sunday (#SBS) community.