Post-vacation Syndrome In Children: How To Help Them?

Post-vacation syndrome in children is a temporary state of mind that affects adaptation to routine, including school life. This phenomenon can be natural after a great and fun vacation. However, it turns out that it only occurs in less than 8% of babies.

The prospect of getting up early to go to school after spending your vacation doing what you like best is terrifying. The truth is that most children, thanks to their tremendous adaptability, manage to overcome this obstacle without too much trouble.

However, sometimes post-vacation syndrome in children becomes a problem and then help is needed. In today’s article, we’ll show you how to do this.

Post-vacation syndrome in children – causes

If children initially reject the routines that are imposed on them, much of the responsibility falls on their parents. After all, they are the fundamental figures who control the elements and behaviors that make up the daily life of a family.

A certain percentage of the tendency to develop the syndrome will, of course, be attributed to the child’s personality. A different percentage of the probability will correspond to the family structure and the upbringing style of the parents.

School conflicts, child health problems or possible bullying at school are not without significance. These are all stressful factors that can discourage a child from returning to school after the summer holidays.

As adults, we have a responsibility to watch children carefully and detect any such symptoms. If possible, we should eliminate them as soon as possible.

On the other hand, we should talk to the youngest about the difficulties that are impossible to eliminate to explain what is happening and how we will try to act in a given situation to reduce the negative impact.

Very often we see the consequences, but not the causes of the phenomenon. These, in turn, can be truly multiple and complex. One way to minimize post-vacation syndrome in children is to make sure you did everything you could.

Try to maintain harmonious guidelines, standards and conditions for upbringing at home. This will have good results in the long run.

Post-vacation syndrome in children – what to do to help?

As in many other conflict situations, communication is the key to finding a solution. Breaking the silence, life in danger and crossing the wall that causes malaise and anxiety acts as a balm to relieve tension.

Getting there, however, is not easy and requires conscious efforts.

When faced with the symptoms of post-vacation syndrome in children, they show irritation and a definite refusal to perform routine, planned activities. When you notice these symptoms in a child, don’t force him or blame him.

Understand the responsibilities that await your child in the new school term, and then reassure them that you will support them in carrying out these responsibilities. Your child will need even more help if they have just changed schools.

Post-vacation syndrome in children – investigate the causes of the phenomenon

Understanding the factors causing this disorder is the first step on the way to overcoming post-vacation syndrome in children. View your child’s timesheet for hours of rest, play and chores. If these activities overlap, act immediately, make the necessary modifications to the schedule.

If, after careful examination of your family’s functioning, you see no major setbacks, it may be that the cause of the problem lies outside. It will be difficult for your child to express what the problem is, especially if it is personal or very difficult.

In such a situation, efforts should be made to improve communication. Ask questions about classmates and teachers, about the day at school, get the toddler to play or draw scenes he remembers from school. Any mechanism of self-expression is correct as long as it allows parents to get to the bottom of the problem.

The importance of accompanying the child

Adults spend most of their time on vacation with their children. When the holidays end, this bond is loosened and it is not well received by the little ones. Post-vacation syndrome in children is also a feeling of loneliness experienced by the youngest.

Finding a way to accompany them, take them to school, stay for a while and say goodbye are ways of creating a bridge between being together all the time and leaving your child alone at school. Thanks to these elements, the change will not be so abrupt. A gentler transition is also less of a shock to the youngest.

Provide self-confidence and a sense of security

Parents have a different perspective on looking at problems. Their life experience is of great importance here. Children who feel vulnerable assume that the unpleasant situation is final and hopeless. That’s why you have to find a way to work together so that the child doesn’t feel completely overwhelmed.

The importance of getting to know the child’s surroundings

Parents should pay attention to the environment in which their children move around and interact with others. It is about the immediate surroundings, but also what is outside the home, including neighbors, friends and school.

The latter should be frequently visited by adults who should try to establish conversations with management, teachers and carers. From these conversations, you can learn a lot about the awareness, way of thinking and criteria of people who deal with our children.

Adults should try to get to the bottom of relationships that can affect young people. It is not about being overprotective, but about knowing and recognizing that safety and trust in school are the basis of social and collective construction.

Post-vacation syndrome in children: how to help them?

If you want to organize and plan your activities properly, anticipation is strategic. School calendars are scheduled in advance. Use this to include delays and unforeseen events on your schedule.

Adapt to changes with enthusiasm and make the best use of the available time.

Below we propose a series of activities related to good schedule management. However, they must be tailored to your personal tastes and needs related to work and household chores.

Prepare school supplies with your child

With a few days in advance, parents can involve their children in the task of preparing, framing and signing new school articles. The smell of paper and the vivid colors of markers and stickers are always exciting.

Preparing a backpack and getting everything needed is a routine that can make your child want to go back to school.

Post-vacation syndrome in children – don’t do anything overnight

Rapid changes are not easy for anyone to deal with, especially for little ones. If your child gets used to late sleep during the summer holidays, returning to school early can be a traumatic experience.

Therefore, it is necessary to regulate the child’s sleep in advance and approach the bedtime, which will apply in the school months.

Preparation also includes study and homework. It is worth refreshing with the child the elements of school dynamics, briefly reviewing the topics and issues that he will be dealing with in a given semester.

Maybe you can draw his attention to interesting subjects such as nature, environmental science or other areas attractive to your child. All this will be an impulse for him to return to school. It is about arousing curiosity, enthusiasm and enthusiasm.

Communicate with a good attitude

If worries and stress are reflected and communicated through our gestures and speech, the same happens with a good attitude and cheerful humor. Life is complicated, but we need to protect our children.

It is not putting them in a bubble. But understand that a family’s emotional intelligence is based on bonds and support networks that facilitate development.

The unity of the family, the bond between its close members and people outside the family circle, bases its success on the fluidity of communication. Transitions, changes and overcoming new stages are an inseparable element of this. The child must feel part of this whole system. Needs adult recognition and a sense of belonging.

Planning is designing freedom

Adults are required to organize their time well, otherwise unnecessary pressure will put discomfort factors into their children’s lives. For example, being rushed reveals immaturity and is a stress trigger that radiates from adults to children.

Similarly, procrastination causes the accumulation of tasks that, sooner or later, will lead to despair.

But if the home is well organized, parents will have plans and routines that include play and relaxation. Children need it like air. Post-vacation syndrome in children is nothing more than a symptom of a loss of sense of freedom.

It is necessary to plan trips, set routes and places, and set their dates. Organize your preparations together during the week to make the most of your days off.