For healthy and happy school year

MUSCAT, AUG 23
Back to school is not just about purchasing supplies and apparel. Parents must prepare their wards mentally for the upcoming school year. Studies indicate that good preparations significantly impact children's performance and well-being.
The return to school period can be stressful for many students, especially first graders and families, so we need to help students overcome some of the challenges including anxiety, getting up early in the morning to go to school and staying away from parents.
Psychological preparations are a shared responsibility of families and schools. Students may face challenges at the beginning of the school year, including fear of classrooms and teachers. All of these concerns can cause students to feel overwhelmed and stressed at the beginning of school. Fortunately, children are capable of adapting to change.
Dr Mohammed al Ameri, a psychologist, highlighted the importance of preparation, saying, 'Returning to school seems like an automatic event that happens every year, but the educational and psychological reality reveals quite the opposite. Students undergo profound behavioural and emotional transformations during the vacation period. Therefore, the moment of returning to school becomes not just a resumption, but a 'transition' that requires a bridge of organised and supportive preparation.'
Educational psychology studies also confirm that many cases of school anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, or even silent school refusal appear in the first weeks of the school year due to a lack of adequate psychological preparation. Students at this stage show a variety of emotions, ranging from excitement to tension, from curiosity to withdrawal, depending on their supportive environment, their level of personal preparedness, and the nature of the educational transition, especially when moving between grades or schools.
There's no doubt that preparing your child for school, returning to a routine, and waking up early is not easy. Children often grumble and cause chaos, unable to accept the end of their summer vacation filled with fun. Therefore, as school approaches, it's important to prepare your child psychologically so they can welcome the school season with diligence and energy.
Parents must talk to their children about their fears about returning to school and ways to overcome them, familiarise them with potential changes, establish a family school routine a week or two before school starts, including training the child to go to bed and wake up early, preparing school bags and study materials, and providing healthy meals.
Show empathy for your child by letting them know you understand what they're going through and that you'll always be there to support them when they face any challenges or fears. Talking to your child about change can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be bad.
How do I prepare my child for school?
Preparing a child for school isn't just about buying a new bag and clothes. Many children experience initial shock, so proper preparation spares the child this difficult transition and makes school a pleasant and safe place in their eyes. When a student takes their first steps into school, the first thing they encounter isn't the curriculum, but rather the teacher's face, the tone of their voice, and the welcoming look in their eyes. Here, the teacher's crucial role in shaping the first impression becomes apparent, establishing the student's feelings toward their school, their knowledge and themselves.
Many students, especially in the early grades or those recently transferred, arrive at school with varying emotional states: fear, shyness, anxiety or even aggression. Therefore, the teacher's role here is not only to control the class, but also to calm them through:
• A friendly welcome for each student with a sincere smile
• Greeting with a light, festive feel
• Decorating the classroom with motivational phrases and student drawings from previous years
• Telling an inspiring story at the beginning of the class and encouraging interaction
• Calling each student his/her name and using it during conversations
• Giving space for students to discuss their feelings and expectations
• Activating individual or group ice-breaking activities
• Expressing pride in students and expecting success from all of them, without exception