Get ready to go back to school
Severe cases can involve tears, tantrums, and even refusing to go to school.
SWITCHING from the laid-back fun in the sun of summer to rules, homework, and routines can be a big jump for parents and children alike. But with a little preparation and the right attitude, it doesn’t have to be so hard.
It’s normal for a child to have a little flutter of anxiety about going back to school.
After all, they’re getting themselves ready for a lot of newness: a teacher, classmates, tasks, and challenges.
Pupils may have trouble sleeping at the start of the school year, but that’s nothing to worry about. More uncomfortable symptoms might include continued trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, or irritability.
Severe cases can involve tears, tantrums, and even refusing to go to school.
Stay positive
A parent’s attitude has a strong influence on how children view the beginning of school. Children pick up on their parents’ feelings, react to them, and often magnify them. Emphasize to your children that anxiety doesn’t have to be a stop signal.
Create routines
Establishing daily routines at home at the start of the school year (or even before) can also help children adjust.
Doing this directly benefits their work in the classroom, where their day is full of routines.
Routines need to be modelled to kids no matter what age. They need to be shown what to do, not told what to do. And parents need to let their children know their expectations daily.
Create a checklist or flowchart to help children get organised and stay on schedule. It helps ease anxiety with rushing to get out the door.
For the afternoon consider scheduling a routine for homework, snacks, and extracurricular activities.
At night, when setting bedtimes, keep in mind that children between the ages of five and 12 need 10 to 11 hours of sleep.
Setting an early bedtime at the beginning of the school year may not work as well for older children who can handle being up later.
Establish fun traditions
If you’re excited for school to start, your children will follow your lead. Having an annual ritual can help ring in the new school year and can be a treasured tradition for years to come.
Spending time just hanging out with your children before the start of the school year helps with transition. A parent’s simple presence is comforting and soothing to children and gives them the opportunity to talk if they want to.
Once school starts, of course parents want to hear all about it, but it’s important to follow your child’s lead. Some children are chatty and want to discuss every detail.
Others will feel overwhelmed with too many questions. They may need to relax first and talk later, or they may only tell you about bits and pieces of their day.
If your child seems calm and reasonably happy, you can assume the start of the school year is going well.
One of the most precious gifts we can give our children is our confidence that they will find their way.
