Returning to school or starting a new school can be a stressful experience for young children as it comes with many routine changes. This change might scare the kids, and on top of it is the concern about making new friends and its problems. Kids feel like they wouldn't be welcome by other school students, which adds to the anxiety.
Back-to-school jitters are common and understandable. Many children may be nervous about returning to school after a long summer break, and others may be anxious about beginning school for the first time.
However, there’s nothing you can’t do. In this article, we have found a fantastic solution for navigating your way through the first day of school.
Innovative ways to take up to avoid the first day of school anxieties
It is usual for everyone to feel pressure about returning or starting a new school; however, if you follow the steps mentioned, you can easily control your stress and go about it without any worries.
Prepare beforehand
Nothing calms the nerves like preparation. When you know what to expect, your imagination can't fill in the blanks - and that's often a good thing! Survey your school beforehand and try to meet the teachers. This will help you get to know the teacher, see what the class will look like, and try to meet some of your classmates.
Employ calming strategies
As students grow older, they can begin to learn calming techniques for dealing with stressful situations. Before school, talk to your child about breathing exercises and how to slow breathing in a stressful situation. Additionally, discuss with your children how it is acceptable to seek assistance from a teacher or staff member if they cannot calm their breathing or nerves.
Students must understand that it is normal to feel worried or anxious and that they should notify someone if breathing techniques do not work. If students do not develop coping strategies, their anxiety will only worsen.
Change your perception
Remember that the "perception" of a threat is not the reality. Reasoning with your child to help them understand your point of view may not change theirs, and positive real-life experiences can only alter this reality.
When we confront our fears, what we believe to be true is frequently revealed to be false. There is happiness in social situations, and they continue to turn it up.
Try to incorporate visual reminders.
When students don't know what to expect, their anxiety levels can skyrocket. Consider the anxiety of starting a new job and not knowing what to wear, where to go, or what to expect as a parent. This is also true for children, but it is magnified due to their young age and unfamiliarity with the unknown.
For younger students, visual reminders of what to do before bed, such as going to the bathroom, brushing their teeth, laying out clothes for the next day, and packing a backpack, may be beneficial.
Give it some time
Getting started on something new always brings anxiousness to it. The reason behind this is that the unfamiliarity of it makes you uneasy. But remember that when you give it a few days, things will settle, and in no time, you will be enjoying your days at school and laughing at the time you were anxious to start school.
Making New School Friends on the First Day Back to School
Although many of us find it difficult to approach strangers, doing so need not be a scary experience. Making new friends is easy, and not be scared as there are countless options available. Although you don't have to attempt them all, even one or two will help you make new friendships.
Look for others who share your interests.
Find others around who seem to share your appreciation for particular items. Possibly following the book, they are reading or even in line with the types of inquiries they make in class. People with similar interests are more likely to get along as they share their passions, which certainly makes for a beautiful conversation starter.
Get involved in stuff you like
Getting involved in activities that interest you at school (such as a sports team, band, drama club, science club, etc.) is a great way to meet people who share your interests. You'll always have something to talk about, whether it's your team's big win on the field or the play you're rehearsing in drama club. If you're unsure which club is best for you, talk to the organizers of the groups to find out what they're all about.
Make sure that you are approachable.
While we often want to make new friends at school, we can be highly unapproachable without even realizing it. We may be sending an unwelcome message if we wear sunglasses or headphones. Make sure you're always looking up and around you, giving people the opportunity to approach you.
Ask questions around
You've probably heard it before, but people enjoy talking about themselves. Inquire about what they like to do in their spare time, their favorite subject, or their favorite TV shows. Then follow up with questions. For example, if they say their favorite Netflix show is Office, ask them what it's about (or tell them you watch it, too).
Join groups with their toes pointed outwards.
It may seem to be a minute detail, but it can significantly affect how to make new friends at school. Groups with their feet planted outwards, indicating that they aren't closed off as they face the rest of the people at a party or social event, are more open to letting in new people. It can be an amazing opportunity to start a conversation and possibly join their group, whether a club or a close group of friends.
Attend Social Gatherings
Social events exist for a reason: to allow people to socialize! They are frequently used to bring people together and let them get to know one another rather than commemorating a specific event or cause. Never pass up these chances because you never know who you'll meet!
Setting Goals on the First Day of School
Starting school after summer vacations can be an intimidating experience, and your different routines throughout the holidays make it hard to incorporate academics into your schedule. However, setting up goals for the school year will make it easier to cope.
Some of the easy for goals-setting are:
Maintain your focus and motivation.
Okay, you have a good attitude. But you have a lot of reading for classes tonight, a test tomorrow, and a paper due the following day. Perhaps you're getting bored with one of your reading assignments.
Attitudes can shift at almost any time. One minute you're excitedly starting a class project, and then a friend comes over, and all you do is close the books and relax for a while, hang out with friends.
Accepting that life is full of interruptions and change—and planning for it—is one of the characteristics of successful people. Staying focused does not imply becoming a monotonous person who spends all his or her time in class and studying. You simply need to devise a strategy.
Set your priorities
Thinking about your goals will get you started, but you should also consider your priorities. We frequently use the term "priorities" to indicate how important something is to us, and we might believe this is a more important goal than that.
Try the following experiment: Return to your goals and see if you can rank them in order of importance.
Topmost priority one
Second Priority
Third Priority
Priorities do not work that way in reality. It makes little sense to rank goals as more or less critical. Priority is a question of what is more important at any given time. It is essential to do well in your classes, but it is also important to maintain a social life and enjoy your free time. You shouldn't have to choose between the two unless necessary.
Priorities are always associated with time: what is most important to do now? As we'll see later, time management is primarily a means of juggling priorities to meet all of your objectives.
Prepare ahead of time.
The single most effective way to stay focused and motivated to achieve your goals is to plan ahead of time. Don't delay studying until the night before an exam. If you know you have a big exam in five days, go over the material and try to find out how many hours you need to study. Then, spread out those hours over the next few days at times when you are most alert and least likely to be distracted. Allow time for other activities to reward yourself for good grades. Then, when the exam comes, you're calm, know the material, are in a good mood and do well. The majority of planning is about managing your time effectively.
Getting Around With New Subjects
A new class means new subjects or more academic burden. However, it is nothing that you can't manage. You must develop skills to master all your subjects and succeed as a student. Here's how you can do it:
Make a schedule.
Do you work better immediately after school or after dinner? Are you more productive in 90-minute increments or half-hour bursts? Create and stick to a schedule that works for you. However, make sure that the program you have made is getting all work done.
Pro-tip: Don't leave anything for tomorrow. Attempt to complete the work as soon as possible without any delays.
Look for a study group.
Sitting down with a group of people studying the same things as you is an excellent way to go over complex class material or prepare for a big test. You can quiz one another, re-teach material, and ensure everyone is on the same page. After all, the best way to learn is to teach someone else.
Divide your work into segments.
To begin with, studying isn't enjoyable, and forcing yourself to complete a study marathon will only make matters worse. To make studying (more) fun, divide your work into manageable chunks and reward yourself when you finish each one.
Organize your study area.
Discover a space that will maximize your productivity. Look for locations away from the television and other sources of distraction. Set aside a study space you'll want to spend time in, whether it's your local library or the desk in your bedroom.
Get proper sleep every night
Don't underestimate the value of eight hours of sleep per night! A good night's sleep will improve your focus and working memory.
Take proper notes.
Taking notes keeps you more engaged in class and helps you narrow down what you need to study when exam time comes. Rereading your notes is much better than rereading your entire textbook!
Ask as many questions as you like
You're here to learn, so don't be afraid to do so! Asking for assistance, whether from a teacher, a tutor, or your friends, is a safe way to make certain that you actually understand the material.
Organise Yourself.
Making a plan for what you'll do and when you'll do it will keep you ahead of the game.
Wrapping It Up
For children, the first day of school or starting a new school can be an intimidating experience. There are anxieties involved with meeting new people, making new friends, and new subjects you might be unfamiliar with. However, all it takes is preparation and some anxiety-controlling strategies to start. It will require time, but you will enjoy your time at school in a few days.
Remember that it is absolutely important to keep a study-life balance. You can't ignore academics, nor can you get yourself indulged in them completely. You need to make both things work: Studies and your life. The best way to go around is by making a schedule and planning things.
In the end, remember school days are the most cherished time of one's life, and Make the most of your opportunity!
