It’s been a long summer. The majority of children have enjoyed a long vacation of almost three months without having to attend classes regularly and now it is time to go back to school, but in many homes they encounter the problem that the little ones have to return to the routine student.
Andrea Vizcaíno Cuenca, psychologist and CEO of Policlínica Maio explains that although post-vacation syndrome is a common term among adults, “in children we normally talk about an adaptation period, since emotional reactions (anxiety, sadness, nervousness, overarousal, fear…) that usually occur when returning to school are understood as a normal part of the school life cycle and are not considered a syndrome in the clinical sense.
This is the difference with post-vacation syndrome, which “is commonly used to describe the feelings of stress, anxiety or discouragement that some people experience when they return to work or their daily routine after a period of vacation,” says the expert.
Although we should not fall into alarmism, Vizcaíno believes that “we must take into account that the return to school for children generates some emotional impact, since there is a change in many things in the child’s daily life.”
In this sense, it considers that “this emotional impact can include everything from anxiety responses due to separation from their parents and/or caregivers, to nervousness or insecurity about the new year, through fatigue, frustration, irritation (due to demanding rhythms or routines). ), sadness due to the loss of reinforcers such as, for example, having less free time, setbacks in habits already acquired, etc.
However, the psychologist highlights that “this is not something generalized, these possible effects will depend on other factors such as the age of the child, personality traits and previous experiences.”
A problem that can occur these days is the so-called ‘separation anxiety’: “It is common in children, especially at an early age, and can manifest itself in various situations in which children have to separate from their parents or caregivers, and, indeed, , with the return to school in many cases it appears,” explains Vizcaíno.
The expert explains that “the intensity of this anxiety can vary from one child to another and depends on various factors, type of attachment, personality of the child, previous experiences of separation and the way in which the parents handle the situation”, but that in In many cases, “it is a natural and temporary reaction that decreases over time as the child adapts to the school routine and feels safer in his or her school environment.”
Vizcáino also remembers that “in some cases, this anxiety can persist and become a more serious problem that can negatively affect the child’s well-being and their ability to function properly at school.”
In general, for back to school the psychologist has some advice: “It is important that parents and caregivers are attentive to children’s emotions and provide emotional support during this transition, helping them adapt to the school routine again and providing them with an environment safe to express your feelings.”
Child psychology is a booming field and highly required to understand the little ones and avoid the problems that can arise in stages as common as going back to school, so adequate training is crucial to be able to work with children and give them the tools. suitable.
The Master in Child and Adolescent Psychology provides you with the knowledge and technical skills for the evaluation, diagnosis and prevention of different disorders of the child and adolescent population, both clinical, educational and evolutionary.
The Master in Therapeutic Psychopedagogy
With the Official University Master’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology 60 ECTS Credits you will obtain the necessary resources and strategies for professional specialization in the child and adolescent field, with special focus on the most common disorders in that group.
