With
September quickly approaching, many of us are experiencing that shift of energy
that accompanies the start of each school year.
We begin thinking about wrapping up the summer and transitioning into
fall. We begin to make arrangements for
ourselves and our children, readjust our lives, and prepare for the first day
of school and the excitement that follows.
As
we get caught up in the excitement of the school year, however, we often feel
ourselves getting overwhelmed. We stress
ourselves out about practicalities, tending to the planning, the details of
activities, the logistics of schedules, and the added responsibility of schoolwork,
and we forget to take a moment to slow down and gaze at the bigger
picture. We forget about the softer side
of things, and overlook the emotions the often accompany the transition in to
school.
It can
be so easy to forget to check in with our children and ask them how they feel about
the impending school year. We often assume that because our young ones have a
backpack full of supplies, new clothes in their closets, and shiny shoes on
their feet, they have everything needed to start the school year. We
like to consider them prepared because they have attended the open house, met
their teachers, and memorized their schedules.
Or because our kids know where their lockers are located, they are ready
to roam the halls of middle school. It
can be so natural to allow the anticipation and excitement of senior year to
overshadow the anxiety and fear of graduating.
Likewise, we often tend to assume that our college students are prepared
for the reality they are about to encounter, and perhaps most often, we forget
that parents of school-aged children and empty-nesters are handling the adjustment
with ease.
Yet,
in truth, true school readiness is so much more than material things, basic
skills, and partial truths. Of course it
is true that academic performance and effort is important in school, but school
is so much more than that. True it is classwork,
assignments, concentration, and organization.
But to succeed as students, our children must also feel supported by
their parents and their teachers. They
must have food in their bellies, adequate sleep, and the ability to manage
their emotions. They must feel a sense
of belonging amongst their peers and be able to work in teams. They must have at least some sense of self,
problem-solving skills, and perspective.
Similarly, they must be equipped with coping skills, stress management
techniques, and resilience.
Unfortunately,
though, it is all too easy to overlook the importance of such survival
skills. Or perhaps more commonly, such
skills are difficult to teach and are therefore not adequately addressed. Because of this, these intangible assets
often fall lower on our list of priorities than they really should. And while it is admittedly difficult for
parents to instill such traits in our children and feel confident in their
ability to do so, it is paramount to their well-being, happiness, and
success.
This
year, parents and support people, I encourage you to take extra care as you
prepare your children for the 2012-2013 school year. As you tend to the preparations and details
of school readiness, ensure that you also tend to the full spectrum of your
child’s needs. Remember that as one part
of system, collaboration is crucial.
Check in with young ones regularly, encourage them to express their
concerns, remain involved in their lives, and support them as they embark on
this year’s journey.
-El
