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Just An Observation: Back to school is like being back at work

Parents can help with the transition, if they just think about their own feelings after a holiday
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Coming back to work after some time away is a gentle reminder to parents — be compassionate to your kids this week.

Yeah, the dreaded opening day of school has now come and gone for Albertans and the feelings of the majority of kids haven’t changed since before I started classes so long ago.

Walking back into the office last week was a mix of thoughts, from the need to earn a living to sustain life (as much as that is right now) to wanting to bury myself under the sheets for another few hours to that sinking feeling of knowing that rut of routine has wound its way back into daily life.

And that’s exactly what students going back to class are going through right now, so us as parents need to be aware that the kids may be a bit cranky for the next while. Oh, and some of that is because of letting them stay up too late during the summer because they can.

As a side note: I know there are children that absolutely love going back to school, though, much like common sense these days, it’s extremely difficult to find among the general population.

Now, there are several ideas to help the kids lessen the stress and anxiety of the transition from the fun loving, playful, snack-eating days off to the structured, mostly stationary, uninspiring (to some), tedious and run of the mill schedule that belies most school atmospheres these days.

Granted, there will be arguments from school administrators and teachers about many of those statements and other feelings about education today that are expressed by students. While school now is less structured and somewhat adjusted for certain ways that some students learn, the system remains rooted and far too pigeon-holed on labeling students who don’t fit the mould — whether it is in how they learn or if they aren’t able to access the resources teachers rely on so much now.

Back to the ideas to prep the kids to head back, the biggest factor is ensuring they will get enough sleep. Having a good, restful sleep is key too if they are to avoid the grump-fest and potential conflicts when they don’t like something at school.

Next, making sure the kids eat breakfast and have food they like in their lunch (or for snacks during the day, if that’s allowed).

Ever gone to work and not had something — even as simple as toast and an egg — to eat before leaving the house, then wind up having to work through lunch? Imagine how a high energy child would be without proper food before and at school. Well, it’s kind of like watching someone sleepwalking through the day.

And for those people that believe it should all be healthy, the occasional treat in a snack or for lunch can help lift a child’s attitude during the day — especially if they really don’t want to be there.

Oh, and while I’m on about lunch, who decided to slash lunch from an hour long — which included some outside time — to 30 minutes or less? Making kids wolf down their lunch doesn’t promote healthy eating habits or good digestion, even if you promote good food in someone’s lunch.

Lastly, parents can help by giving the kids a bit of down time when they get home. That’s not to say they can shrug off the homework, but provide them a hour or so break to relax. You do that after you get home from work, so why should a child be any different.

However, having the kids pop onto their electronics (if they have them) may not be the best way to have them do that. If the child likes to catch up on a television show, read, do some craft or colouring or simply just veg in their room, then by all means have them go at it. The other thing is — make sure you talk to your child about their day as it will also help them decompress.

Doing all of this can go along way in ridding them of the stresses from the day and maybe have them develop a good attitude toward attending school that will serve them well for their adult life of a routine of going to work.

But that is…just an observation.