Kids spend a significant time of their waking hours in school every day. While they do get in the habit of going to school fairly quickly, they might face several issues while adjusting to the school routine and environment. Understanding these challenges will help you to understand and make sure that your kids find school a wholesome and safe space.
Here are 5 common challenges that kids often face in school.
Separation Anxiety or Homesickness
School might become overwhelming for your kid with many unfamiliar spaces and faces around. They may feel anxious and homesick, when not being in your protective presence. Separation anxiety in some kids might persist for a long duration, especially if they are not able to find safe anchors in the school.
As parents, you need to reassure your kid that you are aware of their feelings. Comfort them when you see them after school and encourage them to participate in activities and lessons. Reassure that you are thinking about them even when they are in school.
Making Friends
Some kids are outgoing and make friends easily, while some are shy and do not mingle well with their peers. If your kid is an introvert and tends to keep to themselves, they might feel out of place at school.
Let your kids play with kids in the neighborhood or at the park. It will help to build up their social skills. A loving and respectful environment at home also builds confidence to interact with the outside world.
Bonding With the Teacher
In school, the teacher is the most important person for your kid. It is not essential that your kid will form a great bond with the teacher. It can be due to many reasons such as the large number of kids in the class, an inexperienced teacher, or even a personality conflict.
If your kid is unhappy with the school, ask how they feel about their teacher. You can encourage them to interact with the teacher. If your kid complains about teachers, make sure to listen carefully and see if the issues are grave. It is a good practice to keep interacting with the teachers and take necessary action if there are problems arising due to your kid not relating well to the teacher.
Eating Problems
You kid is spending a lot of time in school and even while traveling. Food and nutrition become a very necessary part of the school routine. Your kid may face eating issues like not being able to eat properly, remaining hungry, eating junk and outside food, and feeling that the food they eat is boring or inferior to others.
Although you have control over what your kid eats at home, they are exposed to different kinds of foods and preparation styles in school. Do not pack more than they can eat. Always keep healthy snacks and finger foods that are extra to the tiffin. Encourage healthy eating practices at home. And be clear on the rules about eating junk and outside food.
Bullied by Peers
Bullying can be either physical, verbal, or social. Other kids can mock them for different reasons. Being made fun of can hurt your kid’s confidence and ability to make friends. It can be a one-off incident or can be a repeated pattern.
Keep an eye on your kid’s behavior and ask them about their friends. You should get them to open up about who they like and don’t and the reason behind it. You should take it up with the teacher and involve the school if your kid is being bullied. It can negatively impact learning and lead to low confidence in the child.
The school will mean many different things to your kid. There will always be some positive as well as negative things associated with school, teachers, and peers. Even if they feel uncomfortable at school, they can overcome their issues with your help. As a parent, you have to help them navigate the complexities involved. Listen to their problems, anticipate some issues, and have open communication. You must be empathetic to your little ones and any situation that they face.
