Brett Davis - AsiaLIFE Magazine

Expect that you may initially
encounter tears or misbehaviour
after school. These are common
stress-related responses
Summer’s Out
for School
Many families experience a rough
patch during the transition from
summertime to school days.
Daniel Hahn, school psychologist,
explains how parents can help
educators set their children up for
success in those critical first weeks.
Photo by Fred Wissink.
During the first weeks of the
school year, our goal as educators
is to make students feel
comfortable at school as quickly
as possible. However, we enter
the new term knowing that
some students get used to new
situations very quickly, while
others need more time to adjust.
We also know that both of these
reactions are normal.
As we begin the school year,
parents can partner with us
to ease students through the
process by establishing at-home
schedules and keeping lines
of communication open with
children. Remember, few of
us do well with split-second
changes. Talking with your
children about the ways that
life will change as we transition
from vacation to the school year
provides an opportunity for you
to explain your expectations
and for them to speak about any
anxieties they may have.
Here are a few tips on how
to alleviate the stress that often
accompanies the return of the
academic year.
Scheduling for Success
Placing your family on schedules
with regard to bedtimes
and meals is a critical first step.
A good night’s sleep is essential
to optimizing school performance.
The suggested amount
of sleep for elementary students
is between 10 and 12 hours per
night. Certainly students will
at first find it difficult to adjust
to the new bedtime. Evening
activities like brushing up on
academic skills and family
reading will assist your child
through the transition. Evening
reading time in particular provides
academic enrichment and
may hasten sleep. Decreasing
the time allotted for television,
movies and video games may
also prove an effective signal of
the return to school responsibilities.
Dealing with Dawdling
With regard to the logistics of
the morning routine, it may be
helpful to view yourself as the
"getting out of the door" coach.
Consider having your children
make choices about tomorrow’s
school clothes at night. In addition,
choosing a pre-set, easily
accessible place for backpacks
may ameliorate the morning
rush. As the year begins, you
may find your youngster making
less than positive comments
about getting up early or going
to school. It is best to ignore any
negativity. Instead, direct the
morning routine with a smile
on your face. Keep reminders
brief and to the point ("Shoes."
"Backpack.") or consider using
open-ended questions ("What
do you need to do next?"). If
dawdling persists, use natural,
logical consequences. Wake
them earlier if they need more
time. If they speed up their
routine, then allow a later wake
up. You can also follow through
with an earlier to-bed time.
Don’t bribe your children; allow
them to earn privileges for demonstrating
responsibility.
Employing Incentives
For the more forgetful child or
one who has difficulties with
settling into a routine, a star
chart may be helpful. A star
chart is essentially a checklist of
those morning tasks organized
on a grid of lines divided into
days of the week. They can be
photocopied and put on a clipboard
and placed in a prominent
place in your home. Once
the child completes the tasks,
they can be checked off (or you
can use a smiley face). Children
can earn extra privileges or a
toy based on their performance.
Oftentimes dawdling is simply
due to younger children having
not yet internalized a sense of
time. The use of a kitchen timer,
for example, can be helpful.
Easing Academic Anxiety
Many children may experience
anxiety about the bus, their
classmates, their teacher and
how they will perform in school.
This is normal, and reassurance
from parents is key to increasing
their confidence. If your child
in some way indicates concern
about the school year, provide
an opportunity for them to talk
about their feelings. Ask openended
rather than yes/no questions.
Use reflective listening
and paraphrasing, and be empathic.
Acknowledge their feelings
and offer encouragement.
Reassure your child that his
or her classmates are all trying
to settle in after summer and/
or get used to a new school. Be
aware of your own feelings and
anxieties as children often reflect
parental concerns. Exude confidence
when you say goodbye to
your children.
Coping with School-Related
Stress
If you haven’t already, state
your expectations for behaviour
and completing class/homework
assignments. Expect that
you may initially encounter
tears or misbehaviour after
school. These are common
stress-related responses. Do
not overreact unless patterns
of behaviour persist after
several weeks. Be proactive and
talk to the classroom teacher
and school counselors. Many
students are over-scheduled,
and it’s important to help them
pace themselves during the
beginning of the school year,
especially while it is still hot
and humid. Consider minimizing
home and extracurricular
activities during the first part
of the term if necessary, and
allow time for free play. Increase
responsibilities and activities as
your child settles into the school
routine.
As we progress through the
school year, your child’s teacher,
counselor and administrators
all work together to support the
academic and emotional development
of students. Best of luck
to you and your family with the
2010-11 school year!
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