- SEPARATION ANXIETY CAUSES SCHOOL FEAR
There are only a few days left until the start of the 2016-2017 academic year. While some of the students who will start school after a long holiday are excited and happy to start school, some may be afraid and anxious. While the level of anxiety is especially intense in children who will start school for the first time, fear of school may also develop in children who have had bad school experiences in the past years. If your child completely refuses to go to school, he may have Separation Anxiety Disorder.
- So, what should families pay attention to during the school adaptation process?
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Emine Zinnur Kılıç gave information about the psychological problems that children may experience before and after schools open and how families should behave in this situation.
- Remind Her of Her Favorite Friends to Ensure They Start School Willingly
The most important thing that will determine the child's mood when school starts after the holiday; What was his/her relationship with school, classes and friends in previous years? If there are no problems with these issues, adaptation will be much faster and easier. In the last days of the holiday, children gradually begin to mentally prepare themselves for school. While they miss their friends, they may experience excitement and anxiety at the same time. It is natural for all these to occur together. Parents can help the child start school enthusiastically by reminding them of positive memories about the previous year, the good things they did at school, the interesting subjects they learned, their favorite friends and teachers.
- Conversations That Will Increase the Child's Anxiety About School Should Not Be Made.
Starting the first grade of primary school is generally not worrying for children who have attended kindergarten or pre-school education. However, if the child has never been to school before and has no concept of school in his mind, especially children with high anxiety levels may have difficulty in the first days of school.
For children who are not used to leaving home and family, starting school for the first time and spending the whole day away from home may be difficult. Going away is a sudden change in their lifestyle. On top of this change, when obligations such as learning lessons, doing homework, listening to the teacher and obeying school rules are added, the child may become afraid and avoid going to school. Therefore, if the child has not received pre-school education and has never left home; It is necessary to prepare the child for school with games in advance, introduce him to his teacher, find friends to go to school with, so that he can warm up to the school environment and the idea of being away from home. Conversations that will increase the child's anxiety about school should not be made. For example, conversations that will increase anxiety about school, such as “If you do this, the teacher will be very angry with you at school”, “When you start school, you should come home and do homework immediately” should not be made. Instead, it is more appropriate to speak in a way that raises positive expectations such as “your teacher will love you at school”, “you will have many new friends”. In the first days of school, parents should not immediately focus on the child's school success, but instead allow him/her to relax at home.
- Don't Say "It Goes the Way It Starts". Give Time to Get Used to School
When returning to school life after the holiday, children should start going to school immediately from the first days. It is to be expected that it will not be able to get into order. Sleeping and studying patterns will fall into place over time. It is necessary to be understanding about this issue, give the child time and not force him or make him stubborn from the first days. The most important point that parents need to understand is that adaptation to changes is a process and requires time. Thinking "It will go the same way as it started from the first day" and starting to force it from the first day usually backfires.
- If He Refuses to Go to School, He May Have Separation Anxiety Disorder
When starting school, the child may be reluctant at first, complain and complain about being bored at school. It is necessary to understand these but ensure that he/she goes to school determinedly. Even if the child complains, there is no problem if he/she goes to school regularly. However, some children become so anxious about school that they refuse to go to school altogether or begin to avoid school by citing some discomfort. this d This situation may be a symptom of a psychological problem we call "separation anxiety disorder" and a child psychiatrist should be consulted without delay.
- The child's previous experience and structural characteristics determine the time it takes to adapt to school
If the child's previous school experience is positive, he/she adapts easily. However, some children show structural characteristics that get used to new situations slowly and warm up slowly. It takes longer for this group of children to get used to it and adapt. Because these children are more shy about asserting themselves in friendships and make friends late. However, establishing good friendships at school is the most important factor that increases the desire to go to school and makes school life enjoyable for children. Therefore, parents need to make an active effort to encourage and accelerate this group of children making new friends.
- Regulate Sleeping Hours
It would be good for families to gradually start to establish the child's sleep schedule. Generally, during the holiday period, children go to bed late at night and wake up late in the morning. This habit can cause problems during school time. It would be good if they are gradually encouraged to get up early in the morning. It is observed that some of the children, especially those who have passed from first to second grade, forget how to read and write during the summer period. In this respect, it would be good for children to be encouraged to read books and to read them together with their parents to remember what they have forgotten. They can do simple math operations and count the multiplication tables, thus mentally preparing themselves for school.
- For a Good School Success…
First of all, it is necessary to instill in the child the feeling of enjoying learning new things. This can happen with encouragement and praise, not criticism and punishment. Supporting the child to share his knowledge and use it in daily life will enable the child to understand the importance of learning. For this, parents need to be models of people who love reading, learning and improving themselves. People learn information on subjects that they can share and use in daily life much more easily. If you enjoy learning something, The learning process accelerates. If learning is accompanied by anxiety, the learning process is disrupted. It is necessary to take these into consideration when preparing training programs. School is not just a system that prepares children for exams; It should be perceived as a system that develops the brain and prepares it for life. For this, first of all, educators and parents must have this perspective.
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