Going Back to School and Pre-school: Challenges and Sources of Joy

Summer vacation and a lack of programming

We’re all aware of the after-effects summer vacation has on kids. They get used to going to sleep late, sitting in front of the computer or television for hours, are entertained at the pool, the movie theatre, at home, or even on vacation. They grow accustomed, as children tend to do very quickly, to the lack of rules (strict ones) imposed by classes, tests, homework and a need for scheduled eating and sleeping.

Impending challenges

What now? A rough transition is in store for all. You can say that the hardest adaptation is for young children, who must year again say goodbye to their parents each morning, but in truth, it is no harder than the adaptation of children of all ages, who begin new schools. It is natural to worry the most about children starting first grade. Their immense excitement can sometimes beat out their anxiety, as they suddenly feel “big,” but their adaptation to their new surroundings is greater than ever.
Every child is aware that educational challenges and demands increase from school year to school year and most will experience butterflies in their bellies on the first day back. The challenge is greater if they’re starting a new school: will they fit in? Will they be in class with children they know? Will they get along with their new teachers?

Advantages

Children tend to forget the great parts of school while on vacation. Every child has a subject they particularly enjoy, friends they love and teachers they like. Spending hours upon hours with their peers, playing at recess and learning together is much more enjoyable than the pleasures of vacation, when children tend to spend a lot of time at home, in front of the computer, or with family.

Recommendations

The initial period of adaptation will not be easy, but here are a few tips parents have learned over the years, that can be of some help:

1. Try and spend more time with your child during the first week of school, as they got used to spending a lot of time with you over the vacation. They need to gradually get used to spending long days at school - without you.  
2. Ask your child which classmates they enjoy spending time with and set up afternoon playdates.
3. Accompany your child to school on the first days and ensure they know the way, well. This will help prevent them from unnecessarily feeling afraid or anxious.
4. Hang your child’s class schedule in a central location in the kitchen or their bedroom. Go over it together, to help them organize their backpack each day.
5. Organize your child’s backpack with them during the first few days. Make sure there’s room for food and books. Remember that in school, they’ll have to find their belongings on their own. Keeping order in the beginning of the year will help them maintain order throughout.
6. Talk with your child about all the positive aspects of school/pre-school. While this may not work with teenagers, it will with younger children who are eager to talk about favorite subjects, teachers, and hopes for the coming year.

The end of summer vacation always brings with it new challenges and difficulties. The only way to successfully navigate them is to try and evaluate new experiences, friendships, learning opportunities, etc. and remember they’ll learn from it all, in perhaps the most important lessons of their lives.