Before we share the below message with you, just a quick reminder that there will not be any pasta lunch or after care tomorrow. And now...
This year, through Project SEED (Supporting EARLY Emotional Development) we were privileged to have Ellen Weisberg and Jennifer Schmelkin, our two social workers, working with teachers and parents in our school. Below is a helpful guide that they wrote to help families prepare for the end of the school year. We hope you find it useful.
Dear Parents,
We are reaching out as your children prepare to end the school year, which is such a meaningful milestone. Transitions and endings can often be a challenging time for children, and saying good-bye to our teachers, peers and school routines brings up a range of emotions. Each year, it can be helpful to remind ourselves that the transitions of June and early September present unique challenges for many children.
We encourage you to validate your children's feelings. Children may regress in times of stress, so you might be seeing your child struggling with some developmental tasks, even though they were doing well with them before. Let’s support our children and help them connect to their resilience during times of change.
Here are a few reminders that parents have found helpful:
1. Towards the end of the school year, and as summer approaches, some children regress. They may become more “nudgy” or anxious or emotionally dysregulated. Don’t worry - this is a time of transition and can be unsettling. They bounce back, any regression does not negate the growth your child has made. (Other children glide through. That’s fine also.)
2. Familiar routines can help our kids feel calmer during transitional seasons. However, routines may be harder to stick with as the weather warms and schedules change. You may need to abandon school year routines but do maintain some structures that are predictable and that your child can count on. This helps young children feel that their world is predictable and reliable. A consistent bedtime routine is especially soothing and reassuring.
3. Make sure your child continues to get enough sleep! Remember that tiredness shows itself in different ways. Some children droop, but others can get “wired but tired.” A consistent “wind-down” routine at night can be especially helpful.
4. If your child seems nervous about any upcoming transitions, allow them to talk about their feelings. Provide reassurance but also acknowledge that sometimes all of us can feel a little anxious about change.
5. Leave unstructured downtime that can nourish your children but also YOU. Low key times of connection with your family may be what you remember the most.
6. And most importantly, relax, enjoy the summer and enjoy your children.
We are wishing the Beth El community a wonderful summer!
