School Challenges in the New Academic Year

If you happen to have a therapist as a friend Read More »

School Challenges in the New Academic Year

If you happen to have a therapist as a friend or acquaintance, ask them this question: “Is there a period of time where you are busiest?” I would bet that the answer would be, “Yes, February.” I have a few therapists in my family/friend group and this answer is almost universal. By February, the holidays have come and gone with their own difficulties, and people may not have had a real chance to recover yet. The days are short and spring still seems so far away. Any mental health challenges can be just so much harder, and personal resources are often at their lowest.

In Pediatrics, we have similar rhythms. Spring and summer tend to be the school/sports physical season. Sometime in the fall we know we’re going to be entering cold and flu season. About a month after the first thaw is when we see more injuries like lacerations and fractures.

One of the less commonly noticed upticks is about a month after school starts, when kids begin to show signs of struggling at school. The novelty of a new classroom and a new teacher has faded, and any academic review is usually over. Now the real work begins and it can expose some difficulties some kids face. It’s like not quite getting over the first hurdle. Late October, early November is when I tend to have more appointments related to academic, emotional, behavioral, or social concerns.

So now is a good time to check in with your family and see if maybe some concerns are coming up. Maybe your preteen is having difficulty adjusting to new friends, or old friends who are acting differently. Puberty after all hits kids at different ages. Maybe your daydreamer is starting to show some real concerns for ADHD. Maybe your first grader is starting to have some emotional outbursts because Kindergarten math was too easy but they’re not getting 1st grade math.

Now just having a concern doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong, or that major treatment is necessary. Pediatricians are by nature proactive. We like to anticipate challenges and address them as early as possible, so they stay as manageable as possible. If you are noticing concerns, and you feel like you might need help, now is the time to reach out to your pediatrician. For my families, remember that we have the flexibility to handle these things now or later, by phone, video chat, or in person, and that whatever we choose is covered by your membership already!