Anxiety related to starting school is a typical symptom that impacts numerous households. Parents with even hectic daily schedules feel the effects of the changes, as do students who must go to bed earlier and balance playtime with study.
It is possible, nonetheless, to pass through this phase more calmly and without any frights. You shouldn’t wait until the last minute to make changes to your routine. Make arrangements in advance to ensure that you and your kids are prepared for the start of the school year, at least two weeks beforehand.
How to deal with small children
It is probable that your child’s anxiety level is a little higher if you are a parent of a child who is just beginning school or who is in their first year of school. In the first instance, parents experience more distress and anxiety in the days before lessons begin.
Accustomed to having their children around, the feeling of being away from them for a good part of the day is certainly not the best. It helps to know more about the environment in which the child will be. Choose schools with adequate infrastructure and employees who inspire confidence.
In the days leading up to the start of classes, you can also visit the place to learn more details and feel more familiar. This will help you understand that this is nothing more than a natural process and that there is no reason to suffer.
From the perspective of the child, the first week is the most anxious. The child realizes after the first few days of school that spending some time each day apart from their parents will become a regular part of their routine. As soon as they realize that school is a wonderful and enjoyable place, their fear will go, but especially during the first few days, To speak with them and respond to their inquiries, you must be present.
Back to school and end of the holiday routine
Once children grow up, being away from their parents for a while at school is no longer a problem. However, anxiety becomes apparent especially due to the changes in the routine during the holidays. In general, during the period without classes, the diet is less regulated, both in terms of quality and schedule. In addition, the child sleeps and wakes up later.
For this reason, it is important to establish a new routine that can gradually adapt as the return to school approaches. In the two weeks before, take note of lunch, dinner, bedtime, and wake-up times. Also, separate out the school supplies for the school year, organizing the items together with them.
Changes in routine should also be incorporated into parents’ daily lives. Those who take their children to school before work, for example, will also have to plan to wake up earlier. Those who plan to pick up their children at lunchtime or at the end of the day should negotiate more flexible hours with their bosses so that they are not affected at work.
Dialogue is always the best way
Regardless of your child’s age, communication is always the best way to go. Before school starts and especially during the first two weeks, talk to your child every day about the school routine. Try to understand what he likes, what he doesn’t like, and why he thinks this way.
Some children feel inhibited during the first days of school and this anxiety negatively impacts both their academic performance and their daily lives. Without proper guidance or advice, they may become more aggressive or irritable. Schools usually have professionals trained to identify these situations, but it is the parents’ role to understand what is happening and talk to them.
Adjustments will need to be made to everyone’s routine, of course, but remember that it is always harder for children to understand the reasons behind each choice. Be there to justify the rules and help them understand the good side of the phase of life they are living.