– Very soon the children will go to school, but often this is accompanied by problems for both the child and the parent. What can parents face at the beginning of the school year?
— They can be conditionally divided into three groups: emotional (emotional), bodily (somatic) and behavioral.
Emotional problems include tearfulness, depression, bad mood, anxiety, and emotional swings. At the somatic level, the child may have a fever, get ARVI due to weakened immunity. Stress also manifests itself in the form of headaches, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, nausea and general exhaustion of the child’s body.
Children’s behavior at the beginning of the school year may also change. They can protest, literally following their parents: “I don’t want to go to school”, “I don’t want to get up.” Adolescents often have acts of aggression.
All these changes are not a reason to sound the alarm. Talk to your child: Calmly find out what is bothering him. If you cannot cope on your own, seek help from a psychologist. Important: If the somatic manifestations of stress are regular, this is a reason to be examined by specialist doctors and rule out health problems.
– After the holidays, children often have a regimen – how can this be restored?
– The most important thing is the smooth restoration of sleep and wakefulness. Change your bedtime and wake up 20-30 minutes earlier each day. For example, if the child went to bed at 23.00 and got up at noon, try to go to bed at 22.30 and wake him up at 11.30 on the first day.
Add calm evening walks: fresh air will help the body prepare for sleep. Do not play computer games or watch cartoons at night; this stimulates the nervous system and prevents falling asleep.
– What does unwillingness to learn mean?
– There are several reasons. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the cognitive (cognitive) abilities of the child. In the classroom, all children are different, their intellectual abilities are different. A qualified neuropsychologist or psychologist can help adjust the workload to the child’s abilities.
Second, look at the student’s schedule. Make sure your child has two to three hours of free time each day.
Third, find out if the child is having trouble in the classroom. Talk about your friends and teachers. Difficulties in communicating can interfere with enjoying school.
Fourth, listen to conversations at home: At dinner, are you interested in anything other than how your day at school went and what notes you have in your diary today? Do not make education the focus of discussion. Remember that the fear of not meeting expectations can cause anxiety and undermine your enthusiasm for knowledge.
What should parents do if their child does not want to study?
– Parents often react negatively to the words “I do not want to study”, they get angry, try to persuade or immediately run to a psychologist. Behind all these actions are emotions and anxieties. However, from the child’s point of view, this is perceived as a misunderstanding.
The normalization of emotions is important: not wanting to go to school is normal. Do not forget about the verification technique. This is a way to show the child that everything that happens to him is normal and that he has the right to any thoughts and feelings. Be prepared for the fact that the child will not go to school after acknowledging the feelings. It is important to show that parents are always ready to understand and support. If a child is facing difficulties at school, he or she has a close-knit team at home that hears and accepts his or her feelings and emotions. Tell us by your own example that you do not want to return to work after the holiday and how you prepared yourself in the first days.
Leading by example is a great motivator. Does your child not want to study? Ask yourself this question: When was the last time he saw you with a book in his hand?
There are a few more tricks. First of all, in August you should not take children to educational courses or enroll in teachers: remember, a well-rested person will study well! For example, try incorporating reading into your daily routine in the summer. Read together, discuss what you have read: combine business with pleasure. Second, prepare for the new school year. In the store, invite the student to make a choice on his own: this will help him develop his autonomy.
– What kind of a program is made so that a student can rest and his studies are not affected?
– After school, the child should have one and a half hours of free time. It is better to limit sports activities to two or three times a week – this is quite enough. The child needs to spend weekends without homework and without a teacher. Saturday and Sunday are days of recovery and rest. So that the child does not have to do homework on the weekend, teach him to be systematic during workdays: it is better to do his homework at once and in one place.
– Some experts advise schoolchildren two to three weeks before the start of classes to make a list of seven to ten goals and related tasks for the upcoming school year so that they are involved in the learning process. Does this technique work?
– This technique is based on the goal setting technique. It can be effective, but there are nuances. It is important that parents know their child’s schedule in all subjects for a year and find practical meaning in each of the goals: for example, it is pointless to study all the subjects in an algebra textbook, but to be able to calculate the right amount. Paint is fine for repairs in your room. If the profession of medicine and helping people is a value for a child, he is unlikely to skip classes in chemistry and biology.
Try setting some healthy goals for your child for the school year. For example, arrange to do your homework on your own. Tell the value: The child will feel more mature and the parent will have time to spend with the child instead of fiddling with the textbook.
How can you help your child cope with stress during the school year?
“First of all, it is important to understand what causes stress in the child. Remember that in the middle and end of the year the child is exhausted.
Adjust what you can affect: for example, reduce the number of tutoring sessions or cancel one of the training sessions. Observe your child: Pay attention to his coping strategies, ask how he feels in difficult situations, what steps he takes. Read up on stress management techniques yourself and consult a professional if necessary.
If your child is stressed before the exam, encourage him to imagine his feelings not as a monster that scares you, but as a friend advising you to concentrate on the preparations.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.