| Beating the School Doldrums |
By: Mary Lee Shalvoy, Education Columnist
On 2/18/06
If Wednesday is “hump” day in the proverbial workweek, then the period of time between the end of the holiday break and the beginning of spring break is the “hump” of the school year.
| "Younger children may show signs of reacting to stress by picking up new habits like thumb sucking, hair twirling, or nose picking..." |
I call it the “School Doldrums” – when you are stuck in the months of January, February and March, which can be the toughest times to weather through. Somehow parents and children have to plow their way through this time of the school year before everyone can emerge a little light headed and giddy after the spring break.
This is the time in the school year when the teacher isn’t new anymore and you’ve figured out whether or not you can get along. This is when all those things your kid forgot over the summer and were given some slack in September become a stumbling block for getting to the next level. This is when the sun doesn’t shine as much and the cold air outside keeps us in for longer periods of time.
So, here are a few things to take with you as you soldier on until that first whiff of spring air:
- Regroup with your child:
This is a good time to step back and assess the situation. Ask your child: How’s it going? Sometimes all it takes is a quick conversation to avoid getting too far off track. Is she getting along on the schoolyard? Is she having trouble with math?
”How do you like your teacher?” As the mother of three completely different children, I have come to realize that no matter how much we may or may not like the teacher, children still have the same strengths and the same challenges to overcome as they did last year.
If everything seems to be progressing smoothly, it still might be the right time to set up a meeting with the teacher to check in. Check to make sure your child isn’t missing assignments and is on task. This doesn’t have to be a long face-to-face meeting. A simple phone call or email might suffice.
- Manage the Stress:
There’s school and lessons and basketball and dance and, well, the list goes on. It’s important to keep an eye on how much is too much. By now, you have an idea of what our chaild’s grades are and how much homework your child’s teacher gives. Make sure there is enough time for your child to get her work done in a somewhat calm environment. Sleep is also a critical factor—make sure both your child and you get enough.
It’s important to build stress-free time into your family schedule. Is there ever time for your child to just “be?” I don’t mean watching television, either. That can bring on its own sense of stress-related feelings. Let your kids hang out! Remember there are plenty of non-electronic, unscheduled activities: reading, writing in a journal, drawing or painting, daydreaming and playing quietly. Every weekend I impose a “quiet time” in our house. It used to be a glorious “nap time” but I have had to convert it into a time when there is no TV or computer, as my girls get older. Sometimes, if the week has been exceptionally crazy and hectic, they actually sleep! Other times, they use the time to listen to music or work on some hobby.
- Factor in the Weather:
This time of year carries winter issues for everyone. We have to deal with less daylight and less than mild temperatures. How do these things affect students in a classroom? Germs and depression are the two things that first come to mind. Colds and flu can hit and set students back in terms of getting their work accomplished. At the same time, be mindful that as the weather may bring on feelings of sadness or even mild depression in children.
If your child is having trouble decompressing and responds with the signs of stress or depression, research what resources are available to help your child. Does the school have a counselor to talk to? Or, check and find out if there is someone available in the school district.
How can you tell if your child is stressed out? Pay attention to some of the clues:
- Extreme changes in academic performance.
- Nighttime distress, such as difficulty falling asleep or nightmares.
- Short-term changes in behavior, such as mood swings, acting out, changes in sleep patterns, or bedwetting, become withdrawn, or spending too much time alone.
- Physical problems, like stomachaches and headaches or recurring colds.
- Mental challenges include trouble concentrating or completing schoolwork.
- Younger children may show signs of reacting to stress by picking up new habits like thumb sucking, hair twirling, or nose picking; older children may begin to lie, bully, or defy authority.
By addressing the issues now, you can alleviate any problems before it’s too late and you just move on into next year.
In the meantime, I am going to try to discover the positive aspects of this time of year. There’s more snuggling on the couch watching movies. It’s easier to get to bed early when it’s dark out. And, it’s only a few more weeks until that real feeling of spring and the promise of summer.
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