Even though the temperatures are still at record-breaking levels here on the Space Coast, it’s already time for children to head back to the classrooms. That typically means an end of lazy summer days to be replaced by more efficient time-saving plans modified to serve the family unit by getting everybody out the door and where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there in one piece. Unfortunately, with our ultramodern society exposing us to so much stimuli literally from the moment our eyes open in the morning until we fall asleep at night, many of us are on stress overload, rushing around all of the time with too much to do, at home, at work and we never feel any sense of balance. Even worse, this stress is also experienced by our children. Medline Plus.com recently listed the top factors that caused stress and anxiety in children, and they ranked (1) problems with friends, (2) bullying, (3) peer pressure, (4) moving/changing schools, and (5) housing insecurity/homelessness. We like to think of childhood as a time of happiness and joy where kids can enjoy the pleasures of the world before the pressures and responsibilities of adulthood become part of the picture but that is not a reality in our modern times. So the best we can do is work to provide a safe, calm environment that minimizes or eliminates as much stress as possible from our daily schedules. Below are a few tips:
● For the new school year, especially if you have more than one school stop, plan out your route ahead of time and test drive it to see how much time it takes. Don’t rely on Google Maps. Instead, whatever you come up with during normal travel, now add 30 minutes until you are familiar with the route and traffic patterns.
● Invest in clocks, preferably more than one, and don’t just rely on cell phones because people forget to charge them. Ideally, have clocks strategically placed where they are easily seen in the morning so everybody can gauge how much time they have before the bus comes, etc.
● It seems like a no-brainer but prepare the night before, even mom and dad. Have lunch money prepped, papers signed, and outfits, accessories, shoes, and bookbags ready. Create a family cell phone docking station in a spot where everybody’s cords are in one place so they are all charged and ready to go in the morning as well. Nothing can cause a morning to go off the rails faster than a family member frantically searching for their cell phone charger because we all know it is impossible to live without a cell phone these days!
● Establish a daily review time in the afternoon or evening to “check in” with your kids and find out about their day at school and if they are having any problems. Of course, this gives parents the opportunity to connect with the ordinary “housekeeping” type of interactions, such as documents that parents need to sign and send back to the school informing of upcoming events or extracurricular activities, but it also gives parents an opportunity to tune into possible bullying or other more serious issues that need to be addressed and possibly treated by professionals.
● Try to maintain an overall positive attitude in the morning, whether it’s getting ready at home or the drive to school. Multiple studies have shown that people who begin their day by either speaking or reminding themselves about three things they are grateful for in their lives each morning are happier, and in as little as three weeks, their mindset,, in general,, begins to shift to a more positive mindset. So basically you are setting a good example for your children in the morning, rather than “road raging” at the “brain-dead losers and mindless idiots who can’t drive” you can choose some positive, up-beat music or take turns sharing who and what you are grateful for. This teaches a spirit of gratitude in your children as well as a positive mindset, an even more valuable asset.
The fact is that we live in a stressful, complicated world, and even our children begin to feel the effects of stress at younger ages all the time. However, we can choose to provide a space that is loving, nurturing, and safe to the best of our abilities, and as our children experience stress, hopefully, we are open to listening and providing the care and support they need.
To all the children and their families heading back to the classroom, I wish you all the best of luck this new school year. To the teachers, thank you for your commitment to our future.
Til next month, Angela Bozorth