(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) New class teacher students subjects waking up early the school bus and trepidations about fitting in can make our children quite anxious.Have the lazy fun relaxed summer holidays ended already ‘Yes!’ parents say with a sigh of relief after weeks of having to find different ways to keep the little ones busy.
Relived on one hand but restless on the other since going back to school can be a daunting experience for children around the world where their only concerns throughout the summer has been to try and avoid mosquito bites spend time with friends see how long they could stare at the ceiling and what to watch on TV or on the internet.
New class teacher students subjects waking up early the school bus and trepidations about fitting in can make our children quite anxious about returning to their place of education. “The end of summer and the beginning of a new school year can be a stressful time for parents and children” explains psychologist Lynn Bufka PhD. “While trying to manage work and the household parents can sometimes overlook their children’s feelings of nervousness or anxiety as school begins. Working with your children to build resilience and manage their emotions can be beneficial for the psychological health of the whole family.”
This matter is definitely worth thinking about since starting off the school year positively can impact a child’s confidence attitude level of security optimism and performance both intellectually and socially.
Back to school blues and anxieties depend on a range of variables such as:
> Whether the school is new or the same as last year
> Having moved to another country
> How well the child did last year
> How stressed or anxious parents are feeling
> The support received by friends and family members
> Having an older sibling in that school
> How different the summer routine is to the school year routine
> How realistic the child’s expectations are
Perhaps one of the most important facets to be added to this list is the way we can help prepare our children for this return. The transition should be one that has been carefully planned and scheduled in order to avoid shocking the child’s system from holiday to academic mode.
So here are a few steps parents can take to ease the transition:
> Make sure the child’s sleeping and eating habits get into a suitable routine at least one week before school starts.
> Purchase all supplies well in advance with your children so that they can feel involved and excited.
> Talk to your child about any worries they might have.
> Empathize with them; any kind of change can be difficult. Share your own experiences so that they too learn to confront their fears as well as understanding the benefits of education.
> Don’t overreact or project your anxieties on to them.
> Learn more about the school so that you can share little bits of information. The more your child feels you’re familiar and aware of the ins and outs of their school the more comfortable they’ll feel.
> Create a special calendar so that the child can see when the next holiday might be up coming birthdays and special occasions to look forward to.
> Encourage your child to call up school friends if they have been hanging out with other kids/cousins during the holidays in order to re connect to their accustomed social circles.
There are of course those very stubborn children who plan to make your life miserable by shouting ‘I don’t wanna go to school!’ every morning. Now what this might mean is that ‘I wish summer didn’t have to end so soon’ not what most parents quickly interpret as meaning I do not want to get an education sending dreaded images of a doomed future into our consciousness.
How should parents respond to these persistently difficult kids Some parents make the explanation short and (not so) sweet by replying ‘You have to go or mommy and daddy will go to jail.’ Others say things like ‘You can either go to school or work in a factory in Africa making shoe laces.’ Are you answers more creative Would love to hear them.
Now these responses aren’t seriously communicated to the child; they’re often expressed when parents are completely frustrated or in jest. Therefore the best option is to try and get to the root cause of why the child doesn’t want to go to school so that you can effectively help them recover from what’s making them anxious.
A child’s life is filled with exciting twists and turns however they may not know how to fasten their seat belt on the various rides they embark on. Parents and care providers can play a key role in supporting their children along the way. Knowing what to expect who to turn to and how to respond in different situations can all be the building blocks of a secure bridge between the summer holidays and the beginning of a new scholastic year. Dr. Samineh I. Shaheem is the Learning & Development Director at Kawader (www.kawaderuae.com) assistant professor of psychology and the owner of Life Clubs UAE. She has studied and worked in different parts of the world including the USA Canada UK Netherlands and now the UAE. She co-hosts a radio program on 103.8 FM Dubai Eye (Psyched Sundays Voices of Diversity 10-12pm) every Sunday morning discussing the most relevant psychological issues in our community. Twitter: saminehshaheem/Facebook: Life Clubs UAE. Please forward your thoughts and suggestions for future articles to OutOfMindContactgmail.com
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