Kiddipedia
As the summer holidays fade away into a sun-soaked distant memory, parents and carers across the nation are strapping in and getting back into the regular school routine. While some children have embraced the return to learning and reuniting with friends, for others, the school environment is a source of stress, bringing about uncertainties in relationships, communication issues with teachers, and concerns about academic tasks.
Recognising these challenges is crucial for parents and carers. Stress overload is a common experience for children at various developmental stages, with 72% of Australian children and young people having encountered at least one adverse childhood experience related to stress. So, to support your child in coping with back-to-school stress, consider the following tips.
Establish predictable routines
A clear, easy-to-follow routine from the child’s own perspective is the foundation of a predictable school experience. Knowing the steps they need to take to get ready for school on time and with everything they need to take with them can help in reducing a child’s stress levels before school.
Encourage your child to lay out what they will wearand pack their bag for the next day’s activities the night before, and keep to a regular bedtime routine wherever possible. Do your best to limit their screen time in the hour before bed, to help give them the best possible chance of a peaceful sleep.
Help your child predict the routines at school from morning drop-off to line up for the day. Be curious to enquire: “Where do you put your things? What comes first in the morning? What part of the lesson are you most looking forward to?” Once students can accurately envision their schedules and any potential speedbumps, they can eventually be assured of their own predictable responses when managing stress.
Increase homework completion with regular brain breaks
When doing schoolwork or revision at home, emphasise the importance of regular ‘brain breaks’ including stretching, mindful breathing, and other forms of bodily movement. These breaks can help to renew focus and provide some relief to students who struggle with long stretches of concentration.
It can also help to maintain an area of your home specifically for your child to do their homework in peace: somewhere that’s quiet, well-lit and free from the distractions of siblings, pets, or TV.
Pay attention to external stress factors
Parents must remain vigilant about the impact of factors like violence or bullying on their children’s wellbeing and resilience, and keep an eye open for any signs of stress including reduced communication.
Recent research is now suggesting that loneliness and psychological distress are more prevalent among young people, and parents should respond to these challenges with compassion, openness, and a willingness to listen actively. This means listening attentively, doing your best to understand what they’re saying, and responding and reflecting on what’s being said – without trying to push your own agenda.
Empathise with the adolescent stage
If your child is heading towards are in the midst of their teenage years, remember that it’s the job of the adolescent to feel as many emotions as possible to grow in healthy ways. The rapid growth of children into adolescence is essential. Their brains are rapidly forging new connections, leading to a wide range of emotions. As parents, it is important to help children process and understand these emotions.
Adolescence is a time when young people’s brains are rapidly forging new connections for thinking and feeling, which can, in turn, lead to added stress and confusion. Remain empathetic to these shifting emotions and practice patience wherever possible – even if, at times, it might feel like a chalenge!
Make time for your own stress relief
Parenting isn’t easy, so make sure you’re paying attention when your stress response starts to feel overloaded. Acknowledging and making time for that self-care is important, because you won’t be able to effectively look after others unless you’re also making time to look after yourself.
We always recommend to be aware of your own physical needs, emotional needs, learning needs and the need to connect to culture and community. Often strategies such as breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, journaling, or simply sitting down at the end of the day with a good book can meet multiple needs at once. We also encourage connection with a trusted friend and seeing your own daily and weekly rhythms as a chance to regulate and connect self-compassionately with oneself.
Parents and carers have a vital role to play in creating a nurturing and less stressful learning environment – both in and outside of the classroom. This, in turn, will help children navigate the challenges of the new school year with the confidence and resilience they need to excel.
About Berry Street
Berry Street is a child and family services organisation helping children, young people and families who are experiencing poverty, violence and abuse. Its focus is to help families stay together in safe and healthy homes so they can create the future they imagine for themselves.
Most support systems only kick in when families reach crisis point. Berry Street is working to shift priorities so that children and families get support when they need it, and victim-survivors get the help they need to recover.
About Dr Tom Brunzell
Dr Tom Brunzell has experience as a teacher, school leader, researcher and education advisor. Currently he is the Director of Education at Berry Street and Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
Dr Tom Brunzell presents internationally on topics of transforming school culture, student engagement, trauma aware practice, wellbeing and positive psychology, and effective school leadership.
His research at the University of Melbourne investigates both the negative impacts of secondary traumatic stress and the positive impacts of wellbeing on teachers and leaders working towards educational equity in their communities.
His book: Creating Trauma-informed Strengths Based Classrooms, co-authored with Dr Jacolyn Norrish, is now available as part of Berry Street’s professional development resources and bookstore, as well as booksellers world-wide.
