Big Bad Goes Back to School (Classic) | Back to School Anxiety Story for Kids

If your child is experiencing back to school anxiety, this story for kids will validate their feelings and build confidence before a new school year begins. We explore first day of school worries and share gentle ways to help anxious kids conquer their fear of the unknown.

Big Bad Wolf is starting a new school year and he’s having back to school jitters. He’s worried his wolf classmates will continue to make fun of him over his embarrassing incident during last year’s howl-at-the-moon final exam. Enter his Folktale Forest friends, including Serena the Capybara. They talk him through his new class nerves and guide him back to his calm, cool and collected canine self and send him off with the confidence he needs to become a Master Howler!

This story about back to school jitters is a Dorktales Classic.

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/big-bad-goes-back-to-school/

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DOWNLOAD WORKSHEET/COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/ep74worksheet GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep74freePDF PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS:A new school year often brings back to school anxiety. In Big Bad Goes Back to School, those emotions take center stage as Big Bad works through his worries with help from friends and calming strategies. This story gently encourages emotional resilience, self-regulation, and using your support systems. It features two guided mindfulness exercises for back to school anxiety, perfect tools for easing into the new school year.

CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Amy Thompson, directed and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur and Chanel Tsang from Peace Out podcast. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

SF BAY AREA KIDS PODCAST FESTIVAL! Jonathan will be storytelling live on August 30 at The Reading Bug Bookstore in downtown San Carlos, CA: https://thereadingbug.com/event/2026-08-30/kids-podcast-festival

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