If your child is one of the many starting primary school this September, there might be an interesting mix of emotions going on at home – both for them and for you. While some parents feel excited for this next step in their kids' development, others fear it.

       Such emotions are completely natural, and it isn't all that hard to keep them under control so that that first day is a fun experience rather than a scary one.

       Many parents are worried their youngsters may not be prepared for school. It is certainly a big change, but that doesn't mean it needs to be daunting.

       Speaking to The Mirror, child and adolescent psychotherapist Phil Papworth explained that this is a "challenging time for children" – a "critical transitional moment" in the context of their development.

       He said, though, that "most children are robust enough just to run off and join in", while anxiety is more likely to affect parents.

       For kids, Phil said, "their world and experience" expand into something broader: "One of the key functions of development is for the child to learn and discover a sense of self… 'Who am I and how do I integrate with this developing world?'”

       Adjusting well to this new phase comes down to resilience, he said, adding: "By this age, most infants will have had some early experiences of separation from their mothers and experiences in which they have been practising adaptation and emotional adjustment."

       Whether you think that your child is ready or not for school, chances are they will cope just fine: "We tend to stagger children into nursery gradually to allow for their developmental vulnerabilities. In some countries such as Finland, children don't even begin to go to school until they are seven years old.

       "The belief is that the child’s development should be fully consolidated within the family before commencing school."

       While there isn't much you can or need to do as a parent to prepare your child for school, having a chat with teachers may leave you feeling calmer. Phil said: "Separation for adults from their child is an anxious time... They can seem vulnerable and insecure.

       "But in order to function independently and to gain independence, such separations are important and necessary."