Much excitement is the order of the day when a child starts school as it is to be expected. As the school journey continues there are more and more varied experiences, exposure to new situations, new friends to meet, challenges to meet with regard to learning and so the list continues to grow.

School is an amazingly busy, noisy space in which a child has expectations set for them and of course begins to set their own expectations. It is filled with successes and failures, establishment of friendships and failures socially. Also throw into this mix changes in family situations, emotional challenges etc. The list of changes varies and for a child the journey of school is a powerfully embedded, influential part of their overall regular development. I hope after reading that list which is by no means exhaustive, you feel a little overwhelmed and why not?

A child feels and knows that expectations are all about school. We sometimes shroud them in warmth and affirmation but none the less they are still expectations which put strain on their emotional capacity and readiness to cope.

Any wonder that a child feels and needs respite from the emotional exercise of daily attendance at school. Certainly school holidays give the child and family a rest from the rigour of school and routine but the fatigue I refer to can happen at any time across a child’s school journey. If for example, they have had a series of bad experiences, home situations change, generally not feeling well etc. this can be a trigger to consider a short respite from school.

My belief and experience as a school Principal is to respect the child’s readiness for a break and make some changes if necessary. The world will not come crashing down and the school is always there and available.

The principal is the same for an adult. When the kitchen gets too hot, step outside. There is no deafening research to suggest that pushing through high order stress is the answer. This does not make us stronger. What is to be admired and valued is the ability to recognise how to break from the intensity of the situation. If we teach our children strategies to meet the situation head on we are giving them life skills that ultimately strengthen their resolve and skill in managing stress. The mere fact that they are breaking the routine of school is irrelevant.

So what does this all mean for our children?

If your child is experiencing school fatigue the following thoughts come from my many years of experience as a school principal.

Is your child is experiencing school fatigue?

Recognise that it is legitimate. School fatigue from time to time can happen to children. It is real and needs to be addressed effectively.
Talk to your child about the feelings they have and what makes them feel so unsettled.
Recognising their concern is key to a quick recovery. It also tells your child that you agree they are entitled to feel overwhelmed and there are ways to abate the problem. The fact that you are listening to their feelings eases their anxiety that they are just playing up to the situation.
Together brainstorm strategies to ease their concerns. Sometimes having a small break from school is an excellent strategy. This was one that I would often recommend much to the surprise of parents.
After talking through and agreeing to some way of recovering from the fatigue, start to put things in motion.
Keep the school well informed and include the teacher in the plan.
Often it is as simple as a short break from the mental routine of school. It is amazing how short breaks make such a difference to your spirit. Sometimes merely taking your child out of school for a few hours and doing different things together is a refreshing break for all of you.

Schools are predictable spaces and routine and familiarity are the order of the day. How about enjoying the refreshing experience of being in spaces that are not routine.

The key point here is that we acknowledge that school fatigue is real and children especially those that thrive on creativity in their life regularly can be stifled by the school scene. A simple break can make such a difference which ultimately boosts the learning experience.

Keep in mind that children learn when they are happy and feel secure. Merely having a presence at school is not a formula for ongoing improvement and learning.