School is in Session and Now My Child is Acting Different!
Thoughts from the Blue Side:
By Master L
The school year is back into full speed and several parents have begun to ask if it’s “normal” for their child to begin acting differently as a result. Yes, its totally normal. As adults we need to consider just how much of a shock to a child’s social norms/structure school can be. This is especially pronounced in Kindergarten and 1st grade levels. At that age kids are deeply bonded to their parents and the family dynamic they are accustomed to. School introduces, new rules, new routine, new people, new food, new authority, new social dynamics everything!
Consider this, have you ever moved to a totally new city? If you have, as an adult, isn’t it a wild ride!?! Adults have a full tool box of emotions to feel and identify but in especially young children they are still working with the most basic of emotional tools. As they work thru their feelings they can sometimes be expressed in behaviors that seemingly come out of no where.
As adults if it snows in October, do you panic? No, you just say oh and move on, but for your child it is likely the FIRST TIME EVER! Maybe the world is ending, maybe its the start of the next ice age, maybe Santa is doing jumping jacks, all can be reasonable conclusion a child may come to. Remember how many winters you’ve seen, at age 5, they’ve seen 5 in their total lifetime!
If you find your child beginning to challenge you or your rules at home its normal. There is so much new involved in their life its normal to challenge whats known to see if its changed too! Best thing you can do as a parent is stay true to your rules at home, set clear expectation backed by clear consequence (consequences you can follow thru on BTW) and hold the line. Children thrive in structure and are granted a greater sense of peace when you remain consistent.