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Dealing with Back-to-School Stress

时间:2017-09-12 23:05:21

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From VOA Learning1 English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

It is back-to-school time in the United States, which for many is bittersweet. The bitter part is for saying goodbye to carefree, unscheduled summer days. The sweet part is saying hello to a new school year and school friends.

This exciting time is filled with smells of new books, paper and pencils. Children might dress in a new set of clothes and wear new shoes. And of course there are the first-day-of-school pictures that parents share with family and friends.

However, going back to school can also be a stressful time for children and families. Everyone must make the transition2 from easy summer life to routines4, schedules and homework.

Families might also stress about spending extra money for a new school year. Parents often need to pay school fees or to buy new school clothes, sports equipment, musical instruments and school supplies. When parents are stressed, children feel the tension5.

What stresses out children in the U.S.?

Back-to-school stress is different for different ages. Younger children may feel scared to leave their families. Making new friends and dealing6 with bullying7 can also cause stress for students. Older students may stress about their appearance, grades and getting into college.

With teenagers in the United States, stress is a serious and growing problem. A 2013 survey by the American Psychological8 Association9 found that teens in the U.S. are now as stressed as adults.

A high percentage of the teens surveyed say they are stressed about:

school (83%)

getting into a good college or deciding what to do after high school (69%)

and financial concerns for their family (65%)

Two years ago, Danielle Lanteri began going to high school. It is a private Catholic10 school that she attends on a scholarship. She said the demands of the scholarship keep her very busy…and stressed.

“What stresses me out most at this point in my life will have to be the amount of work that I get from my teachers and the expectation that I am supposed to, that I have. With my scholarship for high school, I’m expected to be on a sport, participate in clubs, get an above 100 average in all my classes. And I feel that it’s a little impossible. Very few people end up keeping this scholarship because it’s just too hard to do everything.”

Helping11 stressed out children

However, parents, teachers and children can all help to make the transition back to school easier.

Lori Bambina has been a teacher for over 20 years. She currently12 teaches first grade in Brooklyn, New York at Public School 229. Her students are 5- and 6-years-old.

Routines and knowing what to expect, or predictability, help to reduce stress in children, says Ms. Bambina. So, she focuses on the class routine3 during the start of the new school year.

“Well, for the students, I have my classroom set up with a very clear system. So, I will introduce the system. Then I will revisit the system because at this young age they enjoy structure and predictability. And that routine is very comforting and will not cause them stress if they know exactly where things are located and what type of behavior is expected of them. So, that really reduces the stress and the anxiety because they have their own comfort level now.”

Whether you are in first grade or 10th grade, knowing the teachers and what they expect is a good way to reduce stress.

The "unknown" can be stressful

At her new high school, Danielle did not know her teachers. She did not know the best way to build relationships with them. Also, the teachers did not know her learning style.

All of these unknowns caused Danielle a lot of stress.

“It was the not knowing the teachers. They didn’t know me; so they don't know how I work. That stressed me out. I didn’t know what type of relationship I should have with my teacher. And to cut down the stress, I will email my teachers if I have a problem and try to, like, get to know them better.”

Knowing what a teacher wants in the classroom is a good way to cut down on stress.

But there are things you can do in the home, too.

Mary Anne Aidala began teaching13 in the New York school system in 1962. She retired14 39 years later, in 2001. She is an award-winning teacher and is also the mother of Lori Bambina, the teacher we heard from earlier.

Ms. Aidala advises parents to focus on the basics – get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and turn off electronics15 before bedtime.

“Well, the first thing they (parents) have to do is to get them (children) on a schedule of sleep habits. And they should also make sure they have a good breakfast to keep their brains alert16. And maybe before they go to sleep every night they should start to read them a story or do something educational; so, they can start to reactivate their brains into using them.”

The American Psychological Association makes the same suggestions on its website. They add that getting organized is also very important – for parents, children and teachers. For example, parents should keep their wallets and car keys in the same place. This way they do not have to look for them during a busy morning.

And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report.

I’m Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

bittersweet – adj. combining sadness and happiness

transition – v. to make a change from one state, place, or condition to another; n. a change from one state or condition to another

stress - v. to feel very worried or anxious about something

stress - n. s state of mental worry caused by problems in your life

routine – n. a regular way of doing things in a particular order

bullying - n. abuse of someone by stronger, more powerful individuals


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 learning wpSzFe     
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
参考例句:
  • When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
  • Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
2 transition 7nOwT     
n.转变,变迁,过渡
参考例句:
  • Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood.青春期是童年与成年之间的过渡时期。
  • They all support a peaceful transition.他们全部都支持和平过渡。
3 routine ssoyf     
n.例行公事,惯例;adj.例行的,常规的
参考例句:
  • It is everyday routine.这是每天的例行公事。
  • She found the hospital routine slightly dull.她感到医院的工作有点枯燥乏味。
4 routines 69c7523ced35902f7b3cbc4448524f36     
n.[计算机]程序( routine的名词复数 );例行公事;日常工作;固定节目
参考例句:
  • The artists were going through their daily routines. 艺术家们正进行日常的练习活动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Hospital routines for nurses are very rigid. 医院中护士的日常工作非常刻板。 来自辞典例句
5 tension zpUw6     
n.(紧张)状态;拉(绷)紧;张力,拉力
参考例句:
  • I could feel the tension in the room. 我可以感觉到房间里的紧张气氛。
  • Relaxaion is better than tension. 缓和比紧张好。
6 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
7 bullying f23dd48b95ce083d3774838a76074f5f     
v.恐吓,威逼( bully的现在分词 );豪;跋扈
参考例句:
  • Many cases of bullying go unreported . 很多恐吓案件都没有人告发。
  • All cases of bullying will be severely dealt with. 所有以大欺小的情况都将受到严肃处理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 psychological aRUxW     
adj.心理的,精神上的
参考例句:
  • Work also provides psychological well-being.工作还能使人身心健康。
  • The psychological advantage of direct control is impressive.直接控制所收到的心理效果很大。
9 association 6O1yp     
n.联盟,协会,社团;交往,联合;联想
参考例句:
  • Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
  • I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。
10 catholic irxzd     
adj.天主教的;n.天主教徒
参考例句:
  • The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。
  • She was a devoutly Catholic.她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。
11 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
12 currently SvMzI2     
adv.通常地,普遍地,当前
参考例句:
  • Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
  • Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。
13 teaching ngEziT     
n.教学,执教,任教,讲授;(复数)教诲
参考例句:
  • We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
  • He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。
14 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
15 electronics 5q0xB     
n.电子器件,电子学,电子技术
参考例句:
  • About 45000 people worked in electronics in Scotland.苏格兰约有4.5万人在电子行业工作。
  • He wants to brush up his knowledge of electronics.他想温习他的电子学知识。
16 alert KK8yV     
adj.机警的,活泼的,机灵的;vt.使...警觉
参考例句:
  • Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals.驾驶员必须密切注意交通信号。
  • The rabbIt'seems to be very alert all its life.兔子似乎一生都小心翼翼,十分警觉。

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