In the blink of an eye, and your child is back to school. Where does the time go?
A while back we shared some practical tips to make transition into that first week back after the hols go to plan. Today, let’s focus on the emotions…
With all the practicalities of getting back to school at the forefront of everything, it’s easy to forget powerful feelings that can make any first day or week back daunting.
Give Space to Let Overwhelm Settle
There are always dramas at the start of a new term. Always!
Finding out what classes they are in, being separated from a best friend, juggling different or new teachers, it can all be too much in those early days.
So, expect emotions to be over wrought or tetchy as they adjust to the new routines.
Be reassuring, not critical, calm not reactive. Anxious feelings are normal at the start of anything new.
Ask Positive Questions
Rather than a grilling, it can be helpful to let the dust settle before asking lots of questions.
A ‘how was your day’ question is too open-ended for most young people. A grunt with an ‘Okay’ might be the response.
Lovely (yet targeted) questions instead could be ones like these:
- What did you learn today that was really cool?
- What surprised you or was unexpected today?
- Who was the nicest teacher?
- What can I/we do to make things easier this week?
Sewing positive associations into conversations about school can help instil a sense of balance.
Have Last Term’s Woes Gone Back to School Too?
School can be a tough place when things go wrong. So you might need to navigate carefully if your child had a bad term or year.
- Is something still simmering from last term?
- Is a situation unresolved?
- Was your child bullied or had a problem with a specific subject?
Whatever the issue was, it’s wise to keep an eye on whether a similar situation resurfaces so that it doesn’t derail your child or teen.
Therefore, one option is to have a quiet word with a class teacher, form tutor or head of year to keep them in the loop.
Build a Life, Not Just Around School
Here at 1-2-1 Home Tutors, we work with some wonderful students who often worry about results, exams and competing with to their friends.
While academic work and progress matters, it’s not everything.
Why not check out groups and clubs to be part of – not just at school, but in the local area?
Perhaps these challenges might inspire your child?
- Local Dungeons and Dragons group
- Local theatre group
- Local sport teams or martial arts
- Extra curricular activities
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
It’s crucial to unwind, have fun and be part of other activities that don’t end in an exam! The main thing is to not make going back to school ALL about school.
But, of course, if your child is struggling with an academic problem or their confidence has nose-dived and it’s spiralling out of control, a one-to-one tutor can make all the difference to nip problems in the bud.
Get in touch with our cheery tutor team in Manchester and across Cheshire. Or if you’re further afield, we offer an online learning platform too.
Image courtesy of art. com
Tags: extra curricular activities, going back to school advice, managing school overwhelm, managing stress, transition