Back to school: what to do to help your child?

Most Brazilian teenagers, after long vacations, are returning to classrooms across the country. If, on the one hand, returning to school means a routine that helps organize young people’s lives, on the other it can bring with it sources of stress and impacts on sleep that require readjustment, a phase that can be more complicated for some They. They. What can you do to help them?

It is good to remember that on holiday, in addition to being more relaxed and less exposed to potential stress triggers, they sleep and wake up later. With school back in session, this anticipation of going to bed and then getting out of bed works as a sort of “time zone” adjustment. They have to “unplug” first, be able to fall asleep and, therefore, be able to wake up two or three hours earlier than before.

Some studies indicate that, in addition to needing more hours of sleep than adults, the circadian cycle (rhythm with which the body carries out its functions during the day) of young people works a little later than that of adults. They sleep later and tend to be more alert and alert even if they wake up later. Based on these findings, some countries even suggest that it would be ideal for teenagers’ lessons to start two or three hours later than what happens today here in Brazil.

On holiday, this natural “delay” of the biological clock finds an ideal situation to function. Therefore, when lessons resume, it may be more difficult to break this rhythm and excite them immediately. Moral of the story: the ideal would be, in the week before the start of lessons, to bring forward the time to go to sleep and to wake up by about half an hour a day. Easy? NO!

An important enemy of this readjustment to the new rhythm is technologies, which are increasingly omnipresent in their lives. Object of this generation’s desire and extension of the young person’s own body, “weaning” from the cell phone is a tough battle in this return, since, in general, there is an increase in connection time during the months of rest. Research also shows that the ideal is to not expose yourself to any screens for 30 minutes to an hour before going to bed. Calm? Obviously!

Arguing about both bedtime and the importance of not staying up late on your cell phone is a daunting task for most families, which can lead to some conflict and stress. But without clear limits and controls, they are unlikely to be able to change the habit on their own.

Returning to school also brings other responsibilities into play: timetables, attendance, focus and attention to content, relationships with other authority figures (teachers, principals), work, study, tests and social interaction. All of this can pose a challenge for contemporary youth, especially after being away from these tasks for almost two months.

Difficulty maintaining concentration, following commitments and objectives, having to obey a series of rules and limits, understanding the spaces and times of colleagues, exposing oneself to the judgment and scrutiny of others, all this can be a stress-generating factor for a generation who often have no siblings at home, have parents who do not set clear rules and limits, face enormous attention difficulties, and have a low tolerance for criticism and control.

In this sense, it is essential that parents are present in this re-adaptation phase, reinforcing the need to respect the school’s operating rules and the role of the teacher, and underlining the importance of coexistence and respect with peers. It is good to remember that the quality and quantity of sleep, as well as moderation in the use of technology, are determining factors for the attention and concentration of children in class.

If your child is facing significant sleep, attention or anxiety problems upon returning, which are not resolved after the first few weeks of school, it is a good idea to talk to the pedagogical coordination, or even ask for an evaluation from a specialist to understand the problem. …it can be done! The new routines will be in effect soon! Happy back to school!

*Jairo Bouer is a psychiatrist and writes weekly for Terra Você

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.