The transition from summer vacation to the beginning of college might be difficult for kids and their families. In addition to adjusting to recent routines, the transition also requires coping with a mixture of emotions. While some children are enthusiastic about recent teachers and classmates, others may feel fear, sadness, or uncertainty concerning the upcoming school 12 months.
In my 15 years of experience as a counselor for school-age children, I understand how common these stresses might be. I actually have three school-age children of my very own. Here are five strategies to assist make the transition smoother. I not only share these strategies with the families I counsel, but I also use them in my home.
1. Listen to your child
Listen to your child's concerns about this transition and be sensitive to their feelings. Some children are good at communicating and talking about their feelings, but others may have to be specifically asked how they feel concerning the transition back to highschool. It helps to reassure them that the majority students, even teachers, have a number of the same feelings. Make it clear to your child that it’s OK to have mixed feelings; it is feasible to be excited, nervous and sad at the identical time. Research has shown that essential to take heed to childreneven at a young age because they’re the experts on their very own lives.
2. Discuss the brand new routine
Talk about what the brand new routine will appear like for the entire family. With extracurricular activities and changing work schedules, it’d look somewhat different daily. Talking concerning the recent routine will remind children what the day will appear like and set expectations accordingly.
This takes a number of the uncertainty out of the equation, which might be reassuring in a transition period. Research has shown how essential stability is for Childhood learning and academic success.
3. Plan ahead
Planning ahead logistically will help your child mentally prepare for this transition. For example, in case your child is in a brand new school environment, attend an open house or schedule a tour. Even if the classroom shouldn’t be accessible to your child, they may feel more comfortable in the event that they can enter the constructing.
Talk to your child to be certain they’ve all of their summer reading and assignments ready so that they are well prepared for sophistication. If additional academic support could be helpful, arrange tutoring.
To make sure the first day goes easily, pick outfits and pack backpacks the night before. This will facilitate a smooth morning so everyone can start the day on a positive note. When children start the day feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it could possibly be difficult for them to shake off that feeling. Research has shown that anxiety in adolescents can result in longer awake times and poorer sleep.
4. Build trust
Give your child confidence to assist them feel empowered and develop positive self-esteem. Make sure you speak positively to your child and highlight their strengths. This will help children approach the brand new school 12 months with more confidence. Research has shown that students who use positive self-talk show improved academic performanceTeaching children to speak positively to themselves helps them develop the mindset that they will overcome challenges from a young age.
Giving your child the liberty to make decisions about their self-image – for instance, the garments they wear and their hairstyle – can even help them feel strengthened and improves self-esteem. High self-esteem is directly related to future success in life, be it in relationships, profession or life usually.
Taking a step back as a parent might be difficult, but it surely's a natural a part of raising children. I remember how hard it was for me when my oldest daughter didn't want help together with her hair and desired to do all the things herself. It was difficult to not intervene, but I could see how proud she was of herself for handling this task on her own.
5. Seek support if needed
Changes take time to settle in. If your child remains to be having trouble adjusting after three to 4 weeks, it might be helpful to contemplate additional support in your child. This might be the college counselor, guidance counselor, or a person therapist.
From my very own clinical experience, I often see a major increase in referrals of youngsters needing assist in October. This is because after the chaos of the transition back to highschool, October is generally a great time to evaluate how your child is doing. If you want to to hunt outside counseling in your child, the college counselor can offer you a listing of local resources, or it’s also possible to use web sites like these: Psychology today and seek for therapists in your area using the zip code.
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