Conquer Classroom Blues
The start of a school year can be a very happy time, especially for parents. But for kids, the emotions can be more complicated. So this may be a good time to talk about the anxiety that can come with beginning a new grade.
Child psychologist Gil Noam, a professor at Harvard's School of Education, gives CBS News This Morning's Co-Anchor Mark McEwen suggestions about how to deal with the "back to school blues."
Parents should simplify their lives during the first few weeks of school, suggests Dr. Noam. Kids will be going through a lot of adjustments and they need to have a predictable family life.
"Make time!" he suggests. "Just put it in the calendar. Allow for some time. Take off from work, even a couple afternoons, to really pick up the kid. I think that's very important."
 For Special Back To School Coverage Click Here! |
That way parents will be able to get a lot of information, he says. So, as hard as it is, Dr. Noam adds, "It's very important to get the school year started so the kids feel that their parents are involved."
Even though children don't always tell parents when there's a problem, there are some typical warning signs that parents can spot.
| WARNING SIGNS |
| Aggressive behavior |
| Sadness or crying |
| Sibling tension |
| Sleeplessness or bed wetting |
Parents should expect some of these symptoms, says Dr. Noam, and there is no need to panic. But if they persist for three or four weeks, then parents need to seek professional help, he says.
"That's how clinicians think about it: Namely, is it just something that happens and goes away, let's say, like a headache?" he explains. "A headache can be somethin that is a small problem or can be a very serious problem. So we need to know over time."
And if a number of symptoms come together, not just over time, Dr. Noam says, parents should recognize there is a problem that they need to address with the child.
As a first step, we, in our families, should do the work. We should create a setting for the children in the evening around dinner to talk about some of their fears and some of their problems," he suggests. Then go to the pediatrician for advice, he says.
And if the parents are the ones getting the blues, having contact and getting involved with the school can be enriching, Dr. Noam says.
"The anxiety around the separation will also lessen because you will know more what's going on in the school with your child, and you will actually be able to observe things," he says.
©1999 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved