Back to school: an unpleasant task for kids, parents alike

Rawalpindi
Whenever children have a summer break from school, it is an uphill task to get them back into the school routine. Their sleep schedule may be off. Their enthusiasm may be low or completely non-existent. They seem quite reluctant to go back to school. And that’s what most parents had to deal with after every summer vacation.
Most children seemed quite lethargic at schools in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as they walked in to meet their old friends in colourful uniforms and carrying new school textbooks and accessories. Whereas, parents anxious waited outside the school compounds in the early morning to step in and help teachers just in case their children felt discomfort in school environment.
Mrs Saira, who was waiting for her daughter, Manahil, and son, Ali, enrolled in class 1 and class 2 respectively at Anglo Arabic Montessori and High School, was one of the parents this scribe talked to.
Manahil, it seems, proved not to be a tough girl and became friendly with her teachers and classmates within minutes after stepping into the classroom. "Initially, she was quite excited at getting back to school with all her summer vacation work and meeting her friends, but in the afternoon she seemed quite exhausted. “My children had lots of fun as Independence Day had passed a few days earlier and the school management made arrangements for celebrating the day after resumption of classes. The kids had national flags painted on their faces and they had games most of the time on the first day,” she added.
However, when asked about the early morning blues for parents as well as kids as they had to re-tune their clock and get back into the routine of getting up early in the morning, Muhammad Muzammil, another parent, said that it takes time for kids to get up early in the morning and for parents to getting used to the routine once again. “It takes a few days, but the system gets back to normal and that’s what’s important,” he added.
Most schools in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad welcomed students with candies and games and most children were at ease in a short while. Teachers had a tough time to make children of play group, who could not reconcile to being away from their parents, wipe their tears and get acquainted with the school atmosphere.
A mother of three children, while talking to this scribe, said that it was quite difficult for her to wake up early in the morning. "I was half asleep when I was preparing breakfast and lunch for my children," she said. She added that all things would be streamlined in a couple of days.
While those in higher grades said it was not a happy feeling at getting back to school after a long break. "During summer holidays, we could watch television, could roam around and be on our own without any tension. Now it is back to books," said Ahmad Naqvi, a class 7 student of a school in Islamabad. However, he was happy that full-fledged classes would begin a few days later.
At the same time, most colleges had begun classes for Higher Secondary School Certificate after new admissions. In some colleges, orientation sessions were held on the first day. Students looked for books and other relevant material. Teenagers were excited over getting into college life.