Full article from the Term 4 2007 Newsletter 

End of Another Year 

The end of term 4 and the school year is often a challenging time for children and families. There is often anticipation of what the next year will bring, excitement for those who celebrate Christmas or other festivals as well as end of year concerts, performances and end of year parties.
Whilst all of this is often exciting, it is also exhausting. In addition, young children are often more tired simply because it is the end of the year.

In addition to the end of year tiredness, many children are also participating in many extra curricula activities and have probably been involved in these all year. Whilst once we may have provided one extra activity a week on top of school or preschool, there are many children who are enrolled and participating in up to 4 or 5 activities per week.

For preschoolers and young primary aged children, this is far too much. All parents of course want what is best for their children and it is good to have such a range of choice about the sorts of opportunities we can provide for children. However, there is a disturbing and growing trend for many children to be out at activities or having visitors frequently in their own home or going for a play. It is interesting to note how the age of having friends over to play has dropped from around 8 or 9 years to 3,4 and 5 years. This in itself may not be a negative thing, but young children do not find it always easy to negotiate sharing their own toys and space.

There appears to be a tendency for many families to socialise for the adults sake with the children in tow and this may be satisfying for the adults but not necessarily always for the children.

Children appear more and more to have to be keeping up with an adult pace and lifestyle and this leads to tiredness. It is important therefore for families to consider the type of lifestyle they are offering their children. It is lovely for families, both adults and children to mix and socialise together. It is also important though for children to learn that life is not always about being entertained, about being in an activity or always having to have a friend to play. Children require time at home, to play, to create, to learn how to entertain themselves. As the holidays are approaching, try not to organise the holidays like a recreational program and timetable. Allow time for doing nothing, hanging around and just playing. Ensure the lead up to Christmas is not too busy, provide regular bed times and lots of sleep. Provide down time for children and encourage them to find things to make and do at home.

When children are tired, they are less able to regulate their emotions, concentrate, attend and have less resilience. Just like adults really!! Take things easy and as slowly as you can and value the simplicity and yet richness of children playing, making up their own games and creating their own adventures.

Play is often undervalued in our society at the current time and slowing down and allowing time to do this as a priority rather than always having to rush around and entertain or train our children in particular sports or skills is something I think we need to take more seriously.

I often ask parents to ask themselves this question, 'what's the Hurry?' Often there isn't so much to hurry and rush around about and at this time of the year it is important to actually consciously try to slow down rather than to speed up.

Kathy Walker

 Kathy is the author of What's the Hurry a book on parenting and her new book, Play Matters which considers the importance of play within a teaching and learning environment for teachers..