Schools are happy places for our children
Always keep in mind that schools are happy places for our children. They are filled with the excitedness of children and are bustling environments where teachers work hard to provide a climate that is safe and encourages learning in a positive environment.
Now that sounded simply like a motherhood statement or something that you read in school policies.
The truth is that children should be attending school in a happy state. It is impossible for a child to learn effectively if they are not feeling safe and begin to develop anxieties around how they are positioned in the classroom and on the school yard. This is not to suggest that the school environment is a perfect space all the time. In fact, many of the challenges affecting happiness need addressment through school situations.
Overall, the child should feel happy to attend the school each day. This gives them the stamina and self-assurance that they can cope with problems that arise. Consider the amount of time across a week, a term, a year where the child will be at school. Adults struggle to go to work when they begin to lose their joy for working in that space. Resentment builds up and sometimes people become chronically depressed when forced to attend a workplace in which they are unhappy.
So too, a child will feel unsettled and begin to lose interest in school, become more truant and they may become defiant in class. Remember the old flight and fight adage.
In order to keep up the child’s feeling of being happy at school it is crucial to tap in regularly to see that school is a happy place in which to be. This does not mean that every moment is a joy but that generally speaking the child is feeling happy to be there.
Consider:
Having a family chat about school once a week.
Noticing any changes such as increased tummy aches or other reasons created for not attending school. Sadly, the more absences that occur, the greater difficulty for a child to return to school.
Are they reluctant to get ready in the morning? Have they lost their buzz to get up and get dressed?
Are they eating their lunches and generally are they maintaining a healthy appetite?Do they talk about school matters or have you noticed a change in the way they talk about school?
An easy check in is to ask weekly, on a scale of one to ten how was school this week?
Have you noticed a drop in their work or a change in general school behaviour?
Once changed patterns are noticed, tap into your teacher to see if they have depicted changes.
Keep the talk up with your child and remember that whilst every day will not be a ten out ten, they still need to be contented and happy with their day.
If changes have occurred talk gently and listen effectively to their concerns. Then together negotiate ways forward. A parent’s objective is to keep the “happy balance” heading in an upward trend.
“One of the greatest things in life I think is to have a happy childhood.”
