5 Ideas for Coping with the End of Summer Vacation

Coping with the end of summer vacation

Summer vacation is the longest break from school that children and teens have to enjoy. For several months, they can disconnect from their academic routines and responsibilities. However, this season has both its advantages and disadvantages.

On the one hand, whether children have achieved satisfactory performance or not, the school year is truly tiring. Therefore, children and adolescents need summer vacation in order to rest and recharge.

On the other hand, after disconnecting from school life for several months, the end of summer vacation can produce a series of problems in children and adolescents. These include stress, anxiety, sadness, anger, and worry, which can all lead to a deep rejection of the idea of going back to school.

School refusal

School refusal is a psychosocial problem characterized by the difficulty that a student has regarding going to school. This issue frequently manifests itself in the form of fear or anxiety, and even in the form of depression.

According to the results of the study “Psychosocial Interventions for School Refusal Behavior” by Brandy R. Maynard and his associates, around 2% of children experience school rejection. In other words, they become deeply upset at the idea of going back to school.

How to cope with the end of summer vacation?

1. Talk with children about their fears and concerns. Listen to their fears and help children face them. Get involved and offer to help come up with an action plan to deal with their biggest worries and challenges.
2. Plan together. Ask children to help you plan meals or choose clothing for the first week of classes. Eating their favorite foods or wearing their favorite outfits to school may motivate them and raise their spirits. At the same time, it will help them feel more confident.
3. Begin your back to school routine ahead of time. The first day of classes at the end of summer vacation is stressful enough without having to adapt to a new routine at home. So, with that in mind, start modifying routines at least one week before the start of classes. This is especially important for students who have a hard time getting up in the morning.

1. Shop to pick out school supplies together. Have children help in making a list of the materials they need. Allowing them to choose the items they like the best will make them feel less anxious and a bit more enthusiastic.
2. Make the positive aspects outweigh the negatives. According to the charity organization Anxiety Canada, focusing on the positive aspects is fundamental when it comes to helping children overcome the anxiety of going back to school

In conclusion, going back to school at the end of summer vacation will never be easy. However, there are several things we can do to make the transition less stressful and upsetting for young people. For example, gradually easing them into their new daily schedule and focusing on the positive aspects of going back to school.