Back to School!

February is Kids’ Month at PCC!!

To coincide with the return to school, we thought we’d focus on some issues regarding our kids’ health as we head into another school year.
Firstly, we are looking at how we can help our children (and ourselves!) emotionally when we return to school after the break.

Speak positively about the school holidays

We know that as parents you are excited about school starting back as you return to routines and don’t have to keep the kids entertained all day! ;) There are bound to be times in the holidays that you haven’t felt like the best parent or your children have driven you crazy! Try and let go of thinking of those times and as the holidays come to an end, have a chat to find out what your kids liked most about the holidays and share what you enjoyed too. Telling them positive things about their time at home with you reminds them that although you’ve been fed up sometimes, they haven’t been pests the whole time!

Listen

Have you ever heard your child say something like “I don’t want to go back to school! I hate school!” Yep, most kids say this as the start of term looms near. And, it may well be that they’re just grumpy about not being able to sleep in anymore. Or they could be concerned about who their teacher is. One way we can respond is to say “You’ll be alright; you’ll see all of your friends again!” or “Why don’t you like school? You’ve got it so easy!” When we say this, what your child might think is that you haven’t listened and are just palming him off.

Instead, another way to respond is to sympathise (without going overboard) and let your child know that you have heard them and that you acknowledge it is hard to go back after a long time off. Something like “Yeah, it’s hard to get back into routine and not be able to sleep in anymore, isn’t it?” or “You’ve enjoyed running in bare feet all summer, it’ll feel weird to wear shoes and socks again, won’t it?” After all, adults feel that way after a holiday too!

When we respond to children this way, two things happen: Firstly, they feel like we have listened to what they’ve said. And secondly, if there is a real issue with school that they are concerned with, a conversation has been started, making them feel more inclined to open up about exactly what it is they are worried about.

Ease yourselves into it.

After a long break, it’s very hard to automatically jump back into our old routines. Go easy on the after-school activities and extra things on the weekends at first, particularly if your children are young. As a parent, you will also need time to adjust and get used to packing lunches and running here and there. Taking time to relax and reward yourself after having the kids at home with you and juggling work and childcare could be just what you need to get the term off to a great start.

Rhonda Mackay


*Rhonda is a writer and mother of 2 girls. She has a special interest in emotional health and enjoys both the laziness of the school holidays and the peace of the school term in equal amounts! ;)