| After the summer holidays, many kids find it hard to | | | | begins, in order to familiarise him or her with the new |
| get excited about going back to school - a trend that | | | | daily journey and surroundings. Many times, children |
| seems to repeat itself year after year. However, the | | | | may worry about losing friends who are going to a |
| phenomenon isn't exactly a mystery. Following a few | | | | different school, or even just making new friends. If this |
| months of sleeping in, playing all day, going on family | | | | is the case, try inviting one of your child's old friends |
| holidays, and not having to do homework, it's no | | | | over after the first week of school is over, as |
| wonder that the thought of going back to school is less | | | | encouraging old friendships will help put your child at |
| than thrilling for a lot of kids. What's more, the | | | | ease about losing them. If your child is anxious about |
| experience can be especially daunting if a child | | | | making new friends, suggest inviting a new friend over |
| happens to be starting a new school. The resulting | | | | a few weeks into the new term. |
| unmotivated state is often referred to as the "back to | | | | Other causes for anxiety may include leftover |
| school blues", and affects a significant number of | | | | problems from the last school year. Perhaps your child |
| children at the start of each school year. However, | | | | experienced bullying in school, or had trouble with a |
| there are a number of ways to help your child avoid | | | | particular subject – situations that could make kids |
| falling into the back to school blues, and to help them | | | | apprehensive about going back to school. If you |
| cope if they do happen to experience it. | | | | suspect that this might be the case, try re-addressing |
| One way is to get them back into a routine towards | | | | these problems and talking about how they can be |
| the end of the summer holidays, before school even | | | | avoided this year. |
| begins. For instance, a few weeks prior to the start of | | | | Last but not least, set a time to go back to school |
| school, have your child start going to bed and waking | | | | shopping with your child. Whether it's to pick up |
| up at the same time they normally would during the | | | | classroom supplies or a new school uniform, going |
| school year. This will get them back into the school | | | | shopping for school-related items will help put your child |
| year routine slowly and help avoid any shocks when | | | | in the mindset of going back to school. You might even |
| school does finally begin. | | | | want to encourage them to decorate or personalise |
| If your child seems worried about starting a new | | | | their school notebooks and other supplies, putting some |
| school, consider visiting the school before the term | | | | fun into their back to school preparations. |