Beginning a New School Year
Los Angeles/Aug 24, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
Our children will begin their new school year soon. It is likely to cause some anxiety amongst them. This is more so in case of students who will be entering a new phase of their schooling. For example, children entering kindergarten will find it very hard when they separate from their parents in the morning/afternoon when they arrive at the school. Some of them will cling to their mothers or fathers and won’t let them go. The teacher must use a very loving and compassionate approach to bring such children to their class. Such children would even cry for a few minutes before settling down. As soon as they become familiar with a new environment, they begin to feel more comfortable. In such cases parents need to lower their anxiety by reassuring them that everything will be fine and that the school will be a pleasant and comfortable place for them.
The next stage is when children move from their primary grades (k-3) to their intermediate grade (4-7). In the primary grades the teacher is like an ever-present caregiver, more like a parent, offering the children support on on-going basis. Moreover, in these grades their learning is more of an experiential/hands-on nature where the teacher is present to help all the time. However, when the child enters the intermediate grade he/she must switch more to writing. This causes some anxiety for those students who may have difficulty in their writing skills. Such children will need more parental support to deal with the new situation. Also, the children may not get as much individual attention as they were getting in the primary grades. This is where the parents need to step in and help their child with the transition. This gets more challenging for the child when he/she enters high school.
In high school, dynamics have changed completely. The students are expected to be more responsible for their assignments and schoolwork. Some students may find the high school environment to be quite overwhelming. Furthermore, the students must be more responsible for their class work, assignments and other tasks. In a usually large class, they may not get as much individual attention as they were getting in elementary school. This is where the parents and caregivers need to step in and reassure and help their children more than they were used to. This becomes even more challenging when the students enter college or university. Here they are on their own. Whatever phase your children are going through, you must be there to encourage and support them. Here are some suggestions to help parents in this regard:
Every child is unique and special. Gain their confidence to connect with them and help them. Don’t compare siblings. Every child is different. Keep track of your child’s friends. Spend quality time with your children. Teach your children the reasoning skills. Be a good listener. Don’t be judgmental. Take interest in your child’s school and his/her extracurricular activities. Make your child’s childhood as productive and positive as possible. Your children will be very thankful to you for being there when they need you the most.
Balwant Sanghera
(Balwant Sanghera is a retired School Psychologist and Community Activist)
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