Five tips to get your child ready for school after the holidays
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Many people have childhood memories of finding it difficult to return to school after the summer holidays. Even adults find it daunting to head back to work after the New Year or Obon holidays. Christine Grove and Kelly Ann Allen, developmental psychology experts at Monash University in Australia, offer five tips to help children get ready to go back to school after the holidays.
5 tips to help ease your child back into school mode after the holidays
https://theconversation.com/5-tips-to-help-ease-your-child-back-into-school-mode-after-the-holidays-129780
◆1: Plan your preparations every morning
After long holidays such as summer vacation, there are often big changes such as the start of a new school term. During these times, it is especially important to provide strong support to children. Specifically, you should review the following points and create checklists and action plans.
-What preparations do you need to make from waking up in the morning until going to school, such as waking up, having breakfast, and getting dressed?
-What can your child do by themselves when preparing in the morning?
-What do children need support with because they cannot do it alone?
Waking up may seem like a no-brainer, but trying to suddenly wake up early in the morning from a holiday sleep cycle can throw you off balance, so it's important to maintain healthy sleep, exercise, and eating habits. According to Queensland
It's also important to give your child enough time to prepare. The National Sleep Foundation in the United States advises, 'Starting two weeks before the first day of school, it's a good idea to get into the habit of going to bed early and getting up early, using an alarm clock or similar.'
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◆2: Discuss school
Many children experience anxiety and stress about school. Therefore, it is important to talk to them about their school life and find out what their concerns are. Grove also recommends the following three stages of conversation and support depending on their age:
・For children going to nursery school or school for the first time: Write together on a piece of paper what it means to go to nursery school or school.
・First grade elementary school students: Support for children to make friends by introducing them to neighborhood children who go to and from school together.
・From second grade onwards: Set guidelines for how to use electronic devices such as PCs and smartphones, as well as sleep habits and academic work such as homework, and establish healthy habits for the whole family.
◆3: Fostering a sense of belonging to the school
Past research suggests that a sense of belonging at school is closely linked to children's academic performance and happiness, so encouraging your child in conversations can help them have a positive view of school.
In another survey asking parents about the causes of stress in their children, more than half of the parents answered that 'school and homework are the biggest stressors for children.' Therefore, it is said that one way for families to foster a positive attitude toward school is for them to actively help their children with their homework and studies.
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4. Be aware of signs of stress
If you notice any of the following behaviors in your child's school or home life, it's likely that they are experiencing significant stress.
-Being unusually clingy or trying to escape from the classroom
- Shows restless and volatile behavior
Trying to avoid school activities by negotiating or bargaining with adults
・Doesn't want to go to school
- Shows signs of regression to childhood, such as thumb sucking, baby talk, or attachment to a favorite stuffed animal
If this trend continues for about six months, it may be a sign that the child is facing serious stress, such as bullying. In such cases, it is important to work with school teachers and counselors to find out what is happening at school.
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◆5: Encourage them to ask questions
According to Grove, it's a good idea to encourage your child to ask as many questions as possible about school life starting in the new semester and clear up any doubts they may have. Parents may not always know the answer to school-related questions, so if you're unsure of an answer, you should check the information provided by the school or contact the school to share information.
'The most important thing is to let your child know that it's okay to talk to them about anything. For example, setting aside a time during the day to talk about school can help ease their anxiety about returning to school,' Grove advised.
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