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tuesday, january 28, 2014
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guyanatimesgy.com
Foundation
(Continued from Monday) By K Walsh
By Bonnie Rubenstein
T
housands of children have taken one more step toward a significant rite of passage: they have transitioned from being primary school students to becoming full-fledged high schoolers. This transition for children is scary – the fear of anonymity, unfamiliar surroundings and higher expectations all play a central role in the anxiety leading up to the start of one’s high school career. There are things, however, that parents can do to assist with this transition.
Listen
Parents should not discount their children’s fears by just telling them “it will be all right.” Change can be frightening. Parents should reassure their children that they will not be alone in this process. Children at this age need emotional security, support and a listening ear. Your child is anxious about this transition and wants to know that you are an ally.
Get involved
When students are involved with extracurricu-
lar activities, such as theatre, art club or sports, it helps promote belonging. Encouraging involvement in organised school activities fosters teamwork and a sense of place, which ultimately leads to confidence. And confidence comes with inclusion.
Help your child learn the ropes
Many schools have orientation programmes that allow time for incoming students to get oriented to the physical plant. Schools, for example, usually allow students to come in and locate classrooms and get comfortable with their new surroundings. For students who have their schedules, parents can suggest that they walk through the building as if they were coming and going from classes. If students have to take a bus to school, parents should help them plan in advance. Students should know where to get on, and where to get off. This is especially important for students who have to take multiple buses to school.
Cons
Eliminate stress by focusing on details
The more attention that parents pay to small details, the easier things will be for a student on day one. For example, most schools give students their new schedules during orientation. Parents should look over their child’s schedule to ensure it appears to be correct. No matter how much little Billy tries to coerce his parents into believing he is supposed to have three gym classes, he shouldn’t. Scheduling mistakes do happen, and if there is a problem teachers are usually available a couple of weeks prior to the start of classes to get these issues resolved. Addressing any scheduling errors early can save your child from waiting in line and missing classes while his/her schedule is changed.
Prepare for the summer brain drain
Almost every student loses a little ground over the summer. However, if your child has done poorly in a subject, you should try to help him/her find a relat-
ed enrichment activity over the summer. This will increase your child’s self esteem and help prepare your student academically for the start of the school year.
Adjustments to curriculum take time
The higher academic standards of high school and increased competition will take some time and adjustment. Often students earn their lowest percentage in their first year, and then begin to figure things out.
Know when to seek help
After the first couple of weeks, if your child is having debilitating anxiety or is abnormally worried about school, parents must seek help and get an intervention. Many students will exhibit uneasiness and a decrease in self-esteem, but adjustment problems lasting longer than a few weeks may require special help. Parents know their children and know when they
are having drastic mood swings or acting uncharacteristically. If you notice a change in your child’s eating or sleeping habits, it’s time to talk with someone. During this time, never forget to love your children unconditionally. While they are crossing over into adulthood, understand that change is hard and their fears are real. Students today are more stressed out than they have ever been. It’s a reflection of what is going on in our communities and our society. We have so many complex problems – including heightened economic pressures, changes in family structure, persistent violence, cyber-bullying, etc – but there are also more resources to deal with these problems than we had 20 years ago. Parents, teachers, counsellors and school leaders need to work collaboratively to help promote a favourable school adjustment. Nobody can do it alone. (Fox News)
Health risks associated with digital device usage Keeping the children busy during a long car ride is a cinch thanks to digital devices that will play apps, games, music, movies and TV shows. But children often wear ear buds and headphones, and in doing so, risk irreversible eardrum damage if the volume is too loud. Further, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that computer screens emit low levels of x-ray radiation. While there is no evidence that this radiation results in health problems, the EPA also advises that you limit your child’s time with a computer or tablet in on their laps and in front of their faces. And because enjoying digital devices tends to be a sedentary pastime, children may be more susceptible to weight gain. Exposure to child predators and inappropriate content Many parents set limits on Internet use, and employ security and privacy features to protect their children. However, children can still find their way into an online chat room with strangers or click on an enticing ad that links to inappropriate content. Monitoring your child’s online activities is timeconsuming, but imperative. Once posted, always online Children don’t always understand that their online activities are permanent. Worse, their poor judgment could lead to serious, and sometimes criminal, consequences. Before allowing children online, parents should discuss the cyber dangers of bullying, illegal downloading, and texting. Digital devices may be a mindnumbing distraction While plenty of children use their digital devices to download books, most are likely using their electronics to text friends, play apps or watch videos. Some argue that this technology overload is actually disconnecting our children – from nature, play and people. So, do the pros outweigh the cons? This is still a topic that we understand little about. Surely technology opens up an amazing world of learning and productivity to today’s young students, but there are clearly dangers and legitimate concerns surrounding the use of these tools, and what constitutes too much use. It will probably be years before we start to really understand the impact of some of these drawbacks and potential issues. In the meanwhile, these tools are here to stay for the near term, so we should monitor their use and educate students on how to use them wisely without overusing them. (Emerging
Ed Tech)