Welcome to 2025!
As we are starting a new year at school, excitement can also be mixed with challenges. For young people transitioning from being the oldest in their primary school, to suddenly being the youngest in their secondary school, it really is a big deal!
Difficulties are not just isolated to the new students we are welcoming to Brighton Secondary School this year though. All young people can experience a period of adjustment at the start of the year. Moving up a year level can also mean additional workload, higher expectations, increased independence and even changes in friendship circles. This type of change can sometimes feel challenging.
Change can be scary and stressful, and we want to encourage young people to face these challenges head on! But even the most resilient young person sometimes needs help from the trusted adults in their lives. Keep an eye on your child as they settle into the start of the school year. If they seem angry, agitated, or withdrawn, this could be a sign that they need some additional help.
What parents and caregivers can do to help in the lead-up to the start of the school year:
- Get the body clock back on track: In the week leading up to Week 1 of the school term, start to set your child’s sleep and wake times so they are the same as what is expected when they go back to school. This way your child will be in a good sleep routine well before the first day of school, so they are rested and ready to learn.
- Get back into good habits: Agree on appropriate boundaries around screen time during the school term and ensure that screens aren’t being used in bed.
- Help them with organisational skills: Having appropriate stationery, folders for subjects (physical or electronic), and weekly planners can help young people start off organised. Get into a routine of helping them to pack their bags the night before school.
- Create a clear, organised study space for them to use at home: The last place that a person should be doing schoolwork and study is on their bed. Keeping sleep and study spaces separate is extremely important so that the place of rest does not become associated with stress and worry. Ideally, study should occur in a dedicated space in a different room, or at the very least, on a desk space in their room.
- Change is scary! And we need to push through the fear: If transitioning to Brighton Secondary School is scary for your child, help them understand that a lot of their peers are probably in the same boat (even if their peers are really good at hiding it!). Validate that change can be scary and encourage them to push through that initial discomfort! Remind your child about Brighton Secondary School’s lunchtime clubs and activities – they are a great way to connect with like-minded peers.
Parents and caregivers can also keep in mind these tips throughout the school year:
- Building the skill of time awareness: Teenagers and adolescents can have very busy lives. Help your child establish consistent routines early in the school year and make adjustments as things change. Assist them to understand how to balance their time effectively, ensuring they make room for all their commitments – including homework, assignments, extracurricular activities, socialising and fun.
This balance is particularly important for Senior School students with part-time or casual jobs, who might feel tempted to take on extra work shifts. While the extra income can be appealing, it can come at the cost of falling behind on schoolwork and missing out on personal time for hobbies and friendships. It is important to work together with your child to ensure that they can prioritise their responsibilities and their wellbeing. - Keep conversations going with your child: Regularly ask about their day, including topics like friendships, schoolwork, their classroom, and teachers. Listen in a non-judgmental way to help them feel safe to share any concerns or worries they might have. If issues come up, validate their feelings before working together to find solutions. Below, we’ve included some helpful links with tips for having meaningful conversations with your child.
- Normalise asking for help: Sometimes young people hesitate to seek help from teachers, fearing they’ll be judged negatively. Encourage your child to reach out to their teacher sooner rather than later if they’re struggling with their schoolwork. Also help them understand that avoiding asking for help might ease their fear in the short-term, but can lead to bigger challenges in the long-term – such as missing assignment deadlines, getting a lower grade than they hoped, or increased anxiety about seeking help in the future. You can also support this by role-modelling this by showing that it is okay to ask questions and seek assistance when needed.
We hope you have all had some well-earned rest over the holiday period, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the start of Week 1!
Danni O’Connor
Clinical Psychologist
Links:
Talking about school concerns with your child:
https://developingminds.net.au/blog/2017/7/6/useful-questions-to-ask-sadworriedmad-kids-and-teens
https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/school-education-work/school-homework-tips/talking-about-school
Tips for transitioning to secondary school:
https://au.reachout.com/articles/tips-for-starting-high-school
Tips for helping young people with organisational skills:
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/tools-and-tips-to-help-your-teen-get-organized
