|
|
| Strategies for dealing with the post-school monster
|
|
|
|
The first week back at school after the long summer holidays is bittersweet. For parents and carers waving their kids off to Big School for the first time the combination of relief, guilt and nostalgia can be quite overwhelming…so think how it must be for the kids.
The first month at primary school for first timers and even for kids who are returning is grueling; it's all new, new, new and there is so much to come to grips with. Routines, friendship groups, self-care, new concepts, skills and never-ending rules. There is less time for playing and way more sitting and listening; for many kids this is the perfect recipe for a complete and utter meltdown.
Interestingly most kids manage to hold it together at school, but it's home where things becoming more challenging. Your previously perfectly lovely child is likely to change into a cranky, unreasonable, hungry, difficult, argumentative, tired, emotional, unmotivated, uncooperative and unpleasant little being for the first couple of weeks of school and while there is no easy solution except to ride the storm, there are a few strategies you can try to ease your child through the tumult!
Feed them more!!
School is exhausting and tiring and for many kids, especially those adjusting to the responsibility of lunch boxes and set eating times, and it's common to see energy levels plummet towards the end of the day. Anticipate and try and eliminate this problem by giving your child a big breakfast, a lunch box full of healthy protein rich options and be prepared with an afternoon snack when you collect them at the end of the day. Maintaining a steady blood sugar will hopefully keep your child's energy levels and mood more regular.
Hydrate them more!!
In a similar vein to above, many kids forget to drink while they are at school and become dehydrated and lethargic as a result. Try and make it a habit to offer your child a big drink of cold water when you collect them from school and remind them in the morning about the importance of drinking throughout the day. Make a point of showing your child where the bubblers are at school and consider buying a water bottle which fits into your child's lunchbox so they are reminded to drink whenever they open their box to eat something.
Sleep them more!!
The first month of school is the ideal time to tighten up your bedtime routine; sleep is the best way to avoid an exhausted kid. For younger children focus on homework, dinner, bath, stories and bed. Reduce or eliminate screen time to ensure your child has the opportunity to unwind and relax and spend quiet time reading and talking. For many children the period when they are clean and cosy and tucked into bed is when they are open to talking about their day so take advantage of this time and spend a few minutes debriefing with your child.
Exercise them more!!
Although it may seem counter-intuitive to exercise an already droopy and exhausted child, physical activity releases endorphins which is a sure fire way to improve your child's mood. This is especially true after a day of sitting and listening and following rules! It's not necessary to engage in organised sport (although this is good too!), you could hose your kid off in the garden, head to the park with the scooter, jump on the trampoline, chase the dog, kick a ball or play hide and seek. The most important thing is to ensure your child finds the activity fun and is willing to engage. Exercise after school will also ensure your child has a healthy appetite for dinner and will improve the likelihood of an early night.
Leave them more!!
This is hard; it's almost impossible to take a cool, calm and collected approach to catching up with your child after they have been at school for the day. The typical barrage of questions comes almost automatically; did you eat your lunch, who did you play with; did you have fun today; what is your teacher like; are there any notes I need to see; did you get any homework? It is especially hard when it looks like your kid has had a bad day.
As you will quickly learn interrogation is unlikely to yield anything useful so you are better off pulling back and letting your child offer the information when he or she is ready. This may be after a drink and snack or at bedtime (see above) or even at breakfast the next day. Use subtle open ended questions to promote questions and be patient, some kids need time to process and unwind before they can debrief.
Support them more!!
Maintaining a great routine, being clear about your expectations and sticking to a strict weekly timetable will help your kid adjust to the rigours of school life and will work to keep your house peaceful.
See our next article on the importance of routines and how they benefit families with school aged children. |
|
|
|
|
