Hazy Summer Holidays

The long stretch of the summer holidays are in full swing as you read this and children all over the country will be enjoying if not the glorious weather, at least the opportunity to relax and get on with the business of being children.

We can all remember how they seemed to last forever when we were young and the various japes and scrapes we found ourselves in along the way. Kids these days are no different; perhaps they don’t climb trees or use the hoop and stick as much as we did or they should but they need their time to unwind and take a breather from the hustle and bustle of school life. However, despite our recollections and perhaps the frustrations that harassed parents have trying to occupy youngsters the holidays will come to an end and thoughts soon return to the new school year starting in September.

For some pupils the autumn sees the start of a new phase of their life: tiny tots starting nursery or reception; youngsters moving from primary to secondary; older boys and girls moving into the Sixth Form. For all of those, September will bring a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It’s true that the same feelings will be experienced by their parents. It’s always a stressful time when things change, and parents perhaps perceive this more keenly because they are one step removed from it; when a son or daughter crosses the threshold of school it can feel like the situation is no longer under your control.

So what can you do as a parent to manage your own feelings? First, make sure you take advantage of all the help your child’s school will offer to deal with transition. Whether your son or daughter is entering the school for the first time or just moving from one section to another, your school will do its best to help them. Induction days, information evenings, new parents’ socials: it is vital that you do your best to go along to them both to find out more about your child’s first few days but also to meet the other parents and pupils in the same boat. One of the biggest worries parents have during the transition phase is whether their child will make friends and be happy in the new environment; this is as true for a child starting a new school knowing no-one as for a child who moves through with friends to a larger school. Meeting some of the parents of your child’s new colleagues helps to reassure you and them that the nervousness they have is common to everyone.

Once your child has begun at the school, the first few days and weeks can be a balancing act by a desire to constantly check that things are going well for them and a proper need to let them stand on their own two feet. Stand strong; it is not unusual for there to be tears and tantrums in the adjustment to the new environment but don’t assume the worst. Keep in contact with your child’s class teacher or form tutor pick-up times are good for this and let them know how your child is feeling. In the vast majority of cases, some words of reassurance and encouragement from them to your child can be all they need to get over their worries. Be prepared too for some quick changes of friendship; a week is a long time in a child’s life and playground groupings can be fickle and frenetic. Again, keep in touch with your child’s teacher to nip any issues in the bud.

It can be difficult watching our children grow up; however, these changes in life are all part of what will shape them as young adults. Each change is a move toward independence and the resilience they will need to move out into the world.