How to avoid post-school child syndrome with back to school

September is already here and, with it, the return to school. Some five million children will be incorporated into the classrooms of all of Spain in the first weeks of this important month in the calendar and there will be few who suffer postvacational syndrome. Although this disorder is usually identified with adults, children also suffer. This way they can avoid having a bad time when they finish their holidays and go back to school.

As recalled by the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (Aeped), the return to school supposes "a hard change in their routines", something especially noticeable among those children who join the school for the first time. This transformation of his life can suppose a crisis of adaptation, that is, something like the post-holiday syndrome of adults.


Crisis of adaptation of children after the holidays

The pediatricians explain that this crisis "is something normal and very understandable", especially in children who have been without fixed hours since June, with fewer worries and responsibilities and "in environments different from those they will find in school".

In this way, they point out that the adaptation crisis It can happen to any child: those who start school for the first time, those who in the summer have changed their routines a lot, those who change centers and, therefore, also of classmates and teachers, and even those who change stage in the school.

Parents and teachers

When the crisis is caused by changes at school, it is necessary that parents and teachers collaborate together in the adaptation effort in order to "be able to return to the routine of the school year". "The support of the parents-educators binomial is fundamental to convey a positive impression of what the return to school represents, "the pediatricians add.


It is very possible that children have nervousness or even anxiety when it's time to go back to school; a feeling that usually disappears when one or two weeks pass, but sometimes takes longer. Therefore, pediatricians recommend two keys: patience and tranquility, "without demanding much and offering them a little more time to recover the rhythm, since each child has their time measure". On this, a maxim: avoid comparing with other colleagues or siblings.

After-school classes and schedules

For pediatricians, the best way to adapt to return to school is to do it progressively, "applying routines that give confidence and security to students". Another advice given by these experts is to involve the child in the search and programming of extracurricular activities for the new course. "You have to think that they need time to rest and play, and it's not good to overload them with obligations", remember about it.


At this point, another recommendation: the movement. "Daily physical activity, practice some sport, help to be in shape, both at the level of body and mind, "explain the pediatricians, who comment that it would be good to find sports that motivate children, because not everyone likes or is good at them .

Another important aspect mentioned by these experts in children has to do with the schedules, especially those of awakenings. It is advisable that they start a few days before the first day of school arrives and that this is done progressively so that the child's body becomes accustomed.

Closely related to awakening is When to go to bed: "It may be useful to tell the children to go to bed, or to put them to bed, every day a little earlier so that they get up in the morning with the necessary time to clean up, have breakfast, and go to school," the pediatricians explain. In this regard, the head of the dream group of the association, Inés Hidalgo, recalls that restful sleep is "essential" at school age.

Other schedules that have to be recovered are those related to meals and consumption of television, video games or technology. "We must remember that children should not have a television or a computer in their room, they are very useful resources for leisure or work, but they should be shared with the family;avoid the possible isolation of the son and you can exercise a control of these, before a possible improper use of them, "says, meanwhile, Jesus Garcia Perez, head of the Social Pediatrics group of SEPEAP.Also, adds that once the course it is convenient to agree (and in the adolescents to negotiate) the schedules of study and rest in house.

Food on the return to school

On the occasion of returning to school, pediatricians recommend how important it is to have breakfast, and make it complete, as well as eat a varied diet."Several studies relate the lack of school performance in those students who do not eat breakfast or do it insufficiently. It is a habit that should never be missed and, if this custom has relaxed in summer, it is a good time to take it up positively, "they insist on this.

In summary, we can not lose sight of the fact that Healthy habits will help so that the children's defenses are in optimal conditions. "Schools are spaces with a large number of people and therefore with great exposure to different risks of viruses and diseases," remember pediatricians, while insisting on counseling the vaccine of the little ones to protect them from the aggression of different germs during the year.

Angela R. Bonachera

Video: This is PCS: Returning to School with Post-Concussion Syndrome


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