Shu’-‘aa-xuu-dvn (In A Good Way Place)
So what’s on everyone’s mind at this time of year? Back-to-school of course!! New pencils, backpacks and a little bit of quite during the day… Going back-to-school can be and exciting time for children but it can also be a time filled with anxiety and stress. Our families can feel a strain at this time of year, whether a child is going to a new school with new teachers or the cost of new clothes and shoes for the kids. It can all build-up and impact our relationships.
To make this time a little easier, try to prioritize what needs to be tackled first. New school? Stop by the school to meet the staff, and take a tour, learn some of the routines, ask questions, and fill-out paperwork before the official first-day of school. Even if you haven’t changed schools, taking a few minutes to talk with school personnel about concerns that you have for your child, and to alert them of any changes in your family will benefit all involved in your child’s education.
All that shopping got you down? Try not to buy everything at once and not the day before school starts (remember Christmas Eve shopping, ugh!) Figure out a couple of days to go and buy a few things at a time; do they really need 10 packs of pencils on the first day? Better yet, if your child is old enough let them help with the planning.
Remember, everyone in the house needs to get back to the school-days routine. Start going to bed a little earlier each night, read or listen to music (no cellphones – that means parents too). Keep in mind that a child needs 10 – 12 hours of sleep each night to be alert for a whole-day of activity at school. With enough rest a child will be more attentive, less anxious, and a whole lot more pleasant in class.
Lastly, this is a good opportunity to speak with your child about safety. Safety on the bus, walking to school, and most importantly their personal safety. All children should be aware of:
- Who are their safe adults and friends
- That it is okay to say “No” to an adult that is making them uncomfortable
- There are parts of their bodies that are private
- The differences between safe and unsafe touches.
It is important for a child to know that they can talk with you and you will believe them. Keep the communication open for safety and protection of your child. Bad things can happen. If you need to report an occurrence call your child abuse reporting hotline, numbers below. If you are experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence or feel abused by someone in your circle please call our hotline, 707-487-3175.
CHILD ABUSE REPORTING
California
Del Norte County 707-464-3191
Humboldt County 707-445-6180
Oregon
Coos/Curry Counties 541-756-5500
Oregon 1-855-503-SAFE (7233)