Parents' worries about school and how to handle them

Experts offer advice on such school issues as bullying, concussions, not wanting to go, safety, head lice and bad grades.

As children return to school this fall, parents likewise return to worrying about ailments, both physical and emotional, that might befall their children on their way to —and in — the classroom. Whether it's bullying or head lice, thinking about what could go wrong can be overwhelming.

But not all school-related issues are created equal. In order to maintain their own sanity and the sanity of their kids, parents should try to think objectively about what issues truly warrant their attention. We spoke to a handful of experts to get their advice:

Do worry:

Bullying
Parents and teachers are becoming more educated, but bullying still happens. In fact, one in four kids will experience bullying in some manner — whether they are victims, perpetrators or witnesses. It puts kids at risk for serious depression and even suicide, and as such, parents should be aware of what their children are doing at school and online.

Susan M. Swearer, a professor of school psychology at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and co-director of the Bullying Research Network, encourages parents to know who their children are talking to on the Internet and to have open conversations with kids about bullying at school. She also suggests that parents keep an eye out for warning signs — headaches, stomachaches, depression, anxiety — that their child is being victimized.

"When situations get difficult, that's when kids don't want to go to school," she says. "They may get depressed or feel worried and anxious." At that point, the parent should intercede with teachers and administrators.


Concussions
According to Christopher Nowinski, the co-founder and executive director of the Sports Legacy Institute in Waltham, Mass., nearly 50% of students who play contact sports such as football and hockey will incur a concussion each season, as will 20% of athletes participating in other sports.

And while they need not put a child out of the running for the entire season, symptoms of concussions — headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea or vomiting, slurred speech, temporary loss of consciousness — can worsen if left untreated. In rare cases, concussions cause permanent injury or death.

"The key is to make sure that the concussion is identified, and that the athlete is seen by a doctor," Nowinski says. "Every parent should make sure that they educate their athlete on what a concussion is, and make sure they report what those symptoms are" so they can be treated immediately.

School refusal
Most kids will go through phases in which they don't want to go to school, but if those feelings start to manifest in more serious ways — if the child begins to shake, for instance, or cry uncontrollably on the way to school — parents should seek psychological help before the issue escalates into what's known as school refusal.

"Kids can be out of school for months on end" if the problem is allowed to get worse, says psychologist Stephanie Mihalas, an expert on pediatric behavior and emotional problems in children. "It can turn into full-blown panic disorder."

By seeking help at the first signs of severe anxiety, parents can frequently nip school refusal in the bud.


(Source: latimes.com)