BY SAJAD LONE
Going back to school after vacations is really exciting for kids. But it also prompts a spike in anxiety among parents and children as it may be the trouble of separation from Ammi and Abu for children.
However the real anxiety for the parents whose income is confined to the daily waging or working days of summer, consider Mission Impossible to buy new clothes, other stuff for their kids returning to their school, because of no work available in winters here in Kashmir.
After winter vacations, leaving an exciting child to school with new costumes is not everyone’s idea of fun, but parent’s farewell to children on the first day of school, with mix of lies and hope of enjoyment, play at school can be a real test of your diplomatic skills to convince your children on the first day of school after vacations.
The parents going through financial constraints look for ways to manage new clothes, other stuff for their school going children, some take debits, some manage, but rich parents do not have to resort to lies or debt, wherever they go, they buy what their children ask for, unlike children of poor parents.
Some parents are too supportive to the growth and wellbeing of their children as they engage children in the process of purchasing new shoes, clothes, school supplies, thus a unique fun ahead of the opening of schools.
Parents encourage children to create a list of things that he or she needs. Kids who have deeper attachments with parents or the kids who have developed comfort at home during vacations feel a little troubled after separating from Ammi and Abu on the first day of school.
The first day of school may be a bit challenging for kids who are seeing a transition in their daily habits that they developed during winter vacations, but a friendly and smooth environment in schools may help these kids to overcome the separation. The first day at school should not cover academics but to engage children in a variety of co-curricular activities to make the first day at school full of fun and joy.
In Kashmir first March, the time when children return to schools after spending more than two months of winter vacations, with parents, relatives, friends, find the ending days of vacations crazy and exciting, as day before opening of schools, the children are staying up later at night, fall short of sleep, excited to wake up early, to take shower, to wear new clothes, to meet friends.
Ammi comes early and shouts to remind you that it is late. She does this only to wake up her children. You take a peek at the clock and you realize school is starting! It is go time!
Since everyone owns a smartphone, parents should hold their kids on the first day of school and click pictures, which was not in our fortune then. But clicking pictures of children while leaving for school on the first day of school is a good gesture in encouraging students for school.
This shows children that this day is special and that we are proud of them as parents and their progress from year to year.
I am of the opinion that the schools should allow children to come up with new clothes for the first week of their schooling to make the initial days of schooling interesting for students.
The schools should prepare a list of activities, where they can engage the students to enjoy the opening of schools, rather than putting them inside four walls of classrooms.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author.
The facts, analysis, assumptions and perspective appearing in the article do not reflect the views of GK.