The day after American Labor Day marks the return to the office for employees and the return to school for children.
You’ve probably heard of the “Monday Blues” or post-holiday syndrome. Recently, I came across something similar in children: post-summer syndrome, or back-to-school syndrome.
This refers to the difficulty children and adolescents face when transitioning back to school after a summer filled with carefree fun and relaxation.
As the back-to-school season approaches, pediatric psychology clinics see a surge in young patients. In fact, this period is a peak time for such visits every year.
The experts and educators claim that this transition back to school can be stressful for children, especially when they must adjust to a structured routine after a long break. Symptoms may include anxiety, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and reluctance to return to school and even to study.
The challenge is even greater when new teachers, classmates, and academic expectations are involved. Parents and schools often try to ease this transition by gradually reintroducing school routines, discipline and learning. But when the adjustment becomes too overwhelming, some children may need professional help from pediatric psychologists.
I recall when my sister’s son was in elementary school in the U.S., he enjoyed himself thoroughly during winter break, playing computer games and laughing without a care. But once school started in the spring, he began missing his mother, crying and refusing to go.
Plenty of today's children seem more psychologically fragile, lacking resilience. They are like "温室里的花" (wēn shì lǐ de huā), meaning "a flower grown in a greenhouse." This metaphor describes someone who is sheltered, pampered, and protected from the challenges of life and the outside world.
Summer is a lazy, nostalgic period—a reminder of my own childhood summers, with no structured routine, chasing dragonflies, and making toys with neighborhood friends. But back then, I don’t remember ever hearing about any syndrome or the need for psychological counseling.
We’re all familiar with the saying “survival of the fittest,” though our interpretations of “fittest” may vary. I believe that being “fittest” means having the ability to adapt to a changing environment.
Ultimately, back-to-school syndrome is a failure to adjust or to adapt to a new routine of life. It seems that some of today’s youngsters are like 温室里的花, too fragile and unfit for survival. What do you think?