A positive attitude towards school is a kind of goal of goals.
Photo: Shutterstock.
School, as much as we would like to have a good opinion of it, is stressful for both the child and the parents. Children experience innovations, encounters with older classmates, changes of teachers and simply a new level with an increase in the amount of knowledge and tasks. Parents also have a greater workload: checking lessons, monitoring progress…
For children, this can be a real stress even at the beginning of the school year. Limiting physical activity is especially painful for many if the child spent the summer actively. And also a change in daily routine, if you went to bed and got up late, and now you have to readjust. And, of course, the transition periods – the crises of 7 and 14 years.
How to understand that a student needs help, said Victoria Vavilova, a specialist at the correctional and rehabilitation center for working with children and parents, a clinical psychologist.
NIGHTMARE IN DREAM AND IN WAITING
So, signs of stress in both young and older schoolchildren may include:
– Sleep disorders: insomnia, restless sleep, nightmares.
– Decreased performance: fatigue even with light loads, which were easy last year.
– Mood swings: anxiety, resentment, aggression for no apparent reason and in unexpected situations.
– Attention deficit: forgetfulness, inability to concentrate on a familiar task or remember any of the usual things.
– Communication difficulties: demand for privacy, refusal of contact.
– The appearance of physical symptoms of stress: involuntary spasms of the arms or shoulders, weight gain or loss.
What can parents do?
“Support, praise your child, show interest in school matters, but without fanaticism, do not put pressure on him,” recommends Victoria Vavilova. – It is better to initiate more frequent walks in the fresh air and sports activities, for example, evening bike rides. Emphasize your child’s good qualities, remind him of his achievements and do not scold him for his failures and mistakes. Be sure to discuss the student’s behavior and well-being with the class teacher or school psychologist. And the truth is that in all cases with children, do not compare him with others in any situation.
School, as much as we like to think well of it, is stressful for both the child and the parents.
Photo: Shutterstock.
AND FIRST GRADE CHILDREN HAVE FREQUENT ILLNESSES
It is generally believed that a child in a new team (and school, whatever they say, a completely new team) will inevitably get sick frequently. But sometimes illness is an indicator of fatigue.
“A child’s difficulties in adapting in the first grade can manifest themselves through frequent illnesses,” says educational psychologist and expert of the Uchi.ru online platform Gulfiya Kasimova. – If a child gets sick more often than in the previous preschool year, this is a sign that he cannot cope and needs to rest.
There are also important points for first graders. For example, sudden changes in behavior: unusual calmness or isolation. This indicates internal tension. Also, the child may not be able to cope with emotions, scream and cry. Or sleep a lot in an attempt to relieve fatigue.
– It is worth paying attention to the social skills of a first-grader: difficulties in communicating with peers can be the reason for a systematic reluctance to go to school. It is important to notice these signs in a timely manner and support the new student, helping him to adapt to the new conditions. For example, at Uchi.ru we have the course “My Emotions” so that children learn to better recognize and cope with difficult feelings that sometimes accompany the learning process. Do not demand too much: a first-grader is still a child. At the initial stage, the most important thing is support, attention and maximum care,” notes Gulfiya Kasimova.
SEEK BALANCE
“A positive attitude towards school is a kind of goal of goals,” says Georgy Panov, a child psychotherapist at the European Medical Centre (EMC). – First of all, parents should help their children find a balance between anxiety and positive changes that occur with the start of the school year. That’s why when you talk to your child, it’s worth talking with interest about school. For example, talk about upcoming events, such as new activities and friends, to create positive associations. Create conditions for open communication: ask your child to talk about his fears and worries so that you can discuss them together and try to find solutions.
Teach your child simple breathing exercises to help him cope with stressful moments and shift his focus. A nice bonus in this process will be that you yourself will be able to calm down and relieve stress. The most important thing is to learn to cope with the current situation without falling into hysterics.
WHAT TO BE FOR PARENTS?
GO AWAY, ALARM
– In psychology, there is the concept of eustress, which implies a state of stress in which a person adapts and experiences states caused by changes in the internal or external environment. Another concept, distress, most often characterizes a chronic condition in which a person is oversaturated with stressors and stimuli. The main thing that parents need to understand is that it is absolutely normal to experience stress at the beginning of the school year, says Georgy Panov.
To make it easier to cope with this condition, several recommendations can be given.
1. First put the mask on yourself and then on the child.
Each of us has our own ways of coping with feelings of anxiety and unrest. It is especially important for parents to take care of their own emotional background, because children read it perfectly and are contagious, and in an ever-increasing range. So make sure you take time to relax and reduce your stress levels. Seek support from friends, be flexible in your planning, and focus on what you can do. Talking to other parents will also be helpful – this will help you understand that your feelings are normal, you will be able to talk about your personal experiences and find comfort and support.
2. Focus on the positive
Analyze your own feelings: If you feel anxious, remember to focus on the positive aspects. That is, instead of dwelling on the difficulties, give yourself time to think about new opportunities for your child, what they can learn and experience in the new school year.
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