For most kids, the summer break is likely to have been
an enjoyable, fun-filled time with friends and family. However, there are some
kids who may have been affected by a traumatic experience, tough times or
family difficulties over the holidays.
Understandably, these experiences are big events for
young people to cope with. However, the pressures of going to back to school
can make these situations even harder to manage. Children may seem to cope ok
with these events over the holidays, but then struggle to cope once the extra
pressure of school is added to the mix.
If your child has gone through some tough times during
the holidays, these 5 tips can help you support your child as they return back
to school.
1.
Look out for the signs
While it will take most kids up to a couple of weeks
to settle back into the routines of school, kids who have experienced tough
times over the holidays may take longer to get used to school again. Some
indications that your child may be struggling to settle in include ongoing:
·
Irritability, or difficulties managing emotions
·
Relationship difficulties with friends, peers and
teachers
·
Disruptive behaviour in classes
·
Loss of motivation in school and after-school
activities
·
Reluctance to go to school
While these signs are concerning in their own right, not
addressing them early on can end up causing further problems down the road
(including falling behind in school, and ongoing difficulties with peers)
2.
Talk to your child’s school
Letting your child’s school know about the tough times
or family difficulties which have occurred over the holidays can help teachers
to understand any troubles that may come up at school. By talking to your child’s
teachers and school staff, they’ll be in a better position to support your
child during school hours when you’re not around.
You can find some helpful tips about talking to your
child’s school in our tip sheet here.
3.
Keep them going to school
It can be tempting to keep your child at home if you
notice that they are struggling to cope with the transition back to school.
However, it’s important to remember that continuing to take your child to
school provides them with a predictable and ‘normal’ routine, which can help
them to feel safe and secure.
4.
Be Patient
Your child may take a while to settle back in to
school, so try to be patient and persist in supporting them. A consistent
approach between you and your child’s school is the best way to bring about changes
over time.
5.
Get extra support if needed
While your family and your child’s school can be a
great source of support for your child, sometimes extra help might be
necessary. This could be helpful for your child, or for someone else in your
family (including you).
Children often do better after tough times when their
parents start to do better, so getting help to put in place some positive
coping strategies can help both you and your child.
You can access extra support for you, your child and
the rest of your family by:
·
Discussing the difficulties with friends and extended
family
·
Discussing the situation with your family doctor,
·
Making an appointment to see a psychologist or
counselor.
By following these tips, you can help your child (and
the rest of your family) deal with difficulties as they settle into school. Additional advice and tipsheets about
family difficulties and their impact on our children can be found in our
website tgn.anu.edu.au
