How to tell normal back-to-school adjustment from deeper problems in children
An expert explains that tiredness and behavioural changes at the start of the school year are usually a natural part of adjusting, but prolonged or intensifying changes may signal deeper difficulties. Parents are advised to watch how long changes last and stay in touch with teachers.
As children return to school after summer break, many need time to readjust to the daily school routine. Liesma Ose, an expert with the "Skola-kopienā" (School in the Community) project, explains that tiredness, difficulty concentrating, heightened emotional sensitivity, or reluctance to engage in lessons during the first weeks are usually a natural part of adjusting to the new rhythm.
According to Ose, the adjustment period varies for each child but typically lasts around two to four weeks into the school year. What matters is not only which changes appear but also how they develop over time — short-term difficulties should gradually ease, while persistent or worsening changes may indicate the situation deserves closer attention.
What teachers often notice first
Ose points out that school allows a child's behaviour to be observed more broadly than at home — during lessons, in relationships with peers, in group work, and in situations requiring sustained attention and cooperation. As a result, teachers are often the first to notice changes.
Signs worth watching for
Possible warning signs include frequent unexplained absences or refusal to attend school, withdrawal from peers and adults, sudden conflicts, reduced motivation, difficulty concentrating, a sharp drop in grades, persistent lack of sleep and fatigue, loss of interest in previously valued activities, and increased device use. It matters whether difficulties appear across multiple areas of a child's life and how the child responds to offered support — if support helps and the situation improves, it is more likely short-term adjustment, whereas difficulties that persist for weeks or months despite support call for closer attention.
Causes can vary widely
The expert stresses that no hasty conclusions should be drawn from a single sign, since similar symptoms can point to ordinary adjustment or to other issues, including possible risk of dependency behaviours. Regular communication between parents and teachers is important, and in cases of prolonged or pronounced difficulties, it may be necessary to involve a school psychologist, social pedagogue, family doctor, or child psychiatrist.
