Reluctance to go to school, lack of motivation, trouble arising... The "Devil's November" you should know about
Time flies, and November is already upon us...
・The child seems irritable for no reason
・Morning preparations take an unusually long time
・They don't want to talk about homework or school
I wanted to share this before these symptoms start appearing!
That is why I picked up my pen today ^^
\ The Devil's November /
Have you ever heard this term?
In fact, many teachers feel that "November is when classrooms tend to get chaotic" or "children become unstable," and they spend their days with a bit of tension.
1. Why is November "devilish"?
There are many reasons, but the typical ones are:
・The fatigue from working hard since the end of summer vacation is showing (mentally and physically)
・Major events (sports festivals or school art exhibitions) have ended, making it easy to lose focus
・Entering the second half of the school year, differences in academic ability are becoming more noticeable
・Winter break is still far off, making it hard to stay motivated
・It is a season of changing temperatures, which easily leads to fatigue
・Having gotten used to classmates and teachers, children become less reserved, leading to minor troubles
And so on.
2. Changes likely to occur in children
Because of this, you may see changes like the following during this period:
・Waking up in the morning becomes difficult
・Cannot get started on homework
・Getting irritable over small things
・Increasing trouble with friends
・Taking a rebellious attitude toward parents or teachers, etc.
But this is not because they are "problem children."
It is a "temporary fluctuation" and is quite common.
It is also proof that the child is doing their best to face their daily life.
3. Three things you can do as a parent
At such times, please try to be conscious of interacting in the following ways at home.
3-1. Review your daily rhythm
Try to go to bed early and wake up early, and make sure to get enough rest and nutrition.
Lower grade students are still physically immature.
A daily rhythm is the foundation of emotional stability.
3-2. Support your child's feelings
Subtly support your child's feelings by doing things like preparing for the next day or doing homework together.
Even if they can usually do things on their own, just having someone there with them can make the feeling of going to school the next day lighter.
Also, by spending even a short amount of time together, you can notice your child's growth and positive points, and create opportunities to praise them.
3-3. Secure time to listen and 'be there for them'
Since this is a time when trouble is more likely to occur in familiar environments and relationships, rather than trying to ask in detail about how things are at school, be conscious of making time to listen to your child until the end without interrupting them.
This leads to a sense of security and emotional stability for the child.
Even if you happen to see worrying behavior or speech, it is important to first approach them with an attitude of trying to understand the situation.
4. It's okay if you know about it
November is a season when children, parents, and teachers can all easily feel a bit weary.
It's a small thing, but if you start to see more situations where you feel 'something is off...' or 'are they tired?', don't get too caught up in the ups and downs right away.
\ The Devil's November /
Please keep it in the back of your mind.
Try to watch over your child's 'instability' warmly as 'a part of their growth'.