When my husband returned from a work trip with a couple of free teddy bears, I smiled politely. Cute, yes. But nothing groundbreaking—until I noticed something that made me stop in my tracks.
The bears were wearing little yellow T-shirts… the exact same colour as the school uniform my four-year-old, E, will be wearing in September.
Suddenly, the spark of inspiration hit.
Right now, he’s just a regular teddy bear—but very soon, “Buddy” will be transformed. He’ll have E’s name embroidered across his T-shirt and a brand new purpose in life. Buddy is about to become our official School Transition Bear.
How Buddy Helps
I sat down with E and introduced his new companion:
“This is Buddy, and he’s been sent from school to help you. He’s going to live with us and be your friend while we get ready for the move to big school. Buddy knows all about school and he’ll help with the fun activities we’ve got planned.”
E’s eyes lit up. He hugged Buddy tightly.
“He’s yellow like my school shirt, Mummy!” he grinned.
“That’s right,” I told him, “and we’ll help him put on his school shirt every morning. Even though he’s living here, we’ve got to keep him in his school routine, okay?”
E happily took Buddy to preschool that same day, showing him off to anyone who would listen. He had a new friend, and that friend had a job to do.
Will Starting School Still Be Hard?
Yes. Absolutely.
Transitions are tough. For autistic children, the unknown can feel enormous, uncomfortable and overwhelming. But I believe Buddy will help make this big change a little easier. Here’s why:
🧸 1. Building Routine
Every morning, E helps Buddy get dressed in his yellow school shirt. It’s a small act, but it creates familiarity. It plants the seeds of routine before the September whirlwind begins—and that means one less battle to fight on the first day of term.
🗣 2. Indirect Attention
Many autistic children find direct questions or attention difficult. Buddy offers a gentle workaround.
Instead of saying, “You’ve got a stay-and-play session next week,” I can say,
“Buddy’s going to school for stay and play next week—do you think he’s excited?”
That indirect approach allows E to process the idea without pressure. More often than not, he volunteers to come along… to keep Buddy company, of course.
🫂 3. Feeling Safe
New places, new people, new routines—starting school is a sensory minefield. But having a familiar, comforting friend who’s shared the entire transition journey can offer a sense of safety and control in a chaotic moment.
When your world feels like too much, sometimes a tiny yellow bear in a matching shirt can be the anchor you need.
Could This Work for Your Child?
If your little one is facing the same worries about starting school this September, maybe a bear (or unicorn, or crocodile—whatever works!) could be their new school buddy too.
It’s a simple idea, but for a child navigating a whirlwind of change, it might just be the thing that helps them feel a little less alone.
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