One of the things that comes up at the end of the school year is the reality that kids have to say goodbye to beloved teachers and classmates. For some, this can be a painful, difficult, reality of school letting out for the summer. As parents, we may have to step in and help our children learn how to say goodbye and face their emotions over the ending of another school year, as well as the parting from friends, teachers, and the comfortable daily routine of school…
As with most emotional situations, allowing children the opportunity to talk things through and process their emotions is a key piece of healthy adaptation. Learning how to gracefully say goodbye is an important developmental stepping stone. This doesn’t mean that it is necessarily easy or pleasant. Children can become incredibly bonded and attached to teachers and classmates–after all, they see each other every day and go through all sorts of adventures and growing challenges together throughout the school year. Saying goodbye and knowing that there will be an all new classroom and a brand new, unknown teacher at the other ed of the summer can be daunting and anxiety-inducing for some kids.
Start talking through the end of the school year process with your child a month or so before school ends. By going over what will happen and allowing the child to talk through concerns (for young children, the parent may need to name some of the possible concerns out loud for the child), some of the stressors can be alleviated. For some children, having an autograph book, or being allowed to take a camera to school to take pictures of friends and teachers can give them something tangible to do to preserve some memories and commemorate the end of the school year. The ceremony can be helpful in letting them experience closure.
If your child is very anxious, finding out as much as you can about who next year’s teacher will be, what sort of things happen in the next grade, etc. can help you to prepare him or her for what is to come. Knowing at least some of what is coming can help making the saying goodbye less painful.
Try to find out exactly what is bothering your child (if anything) and address the fears behind the concerns. The end of the school year provides the opportunity for our children to learn healthy ways of letting go of old situations to prepare for something new, and it provides them with necessary life lessons in learning how to say goodbye. They just may need our help and support as parents to get through it.
See Also: Coping With Holiday and Vacation Illnesses and School Isn’t the Only Place to Get Educated