Reducing School Stress for Children - Navigating From Home to School

By Kathleen Karlsen

In this commuter age when very few children walk or ride to school on their own each day, psychologists are discovering how important it is for young children to understanding the location of their school location in relationship to the location of their own home. Interestingly enough, children must be able to create a cognitive map between their home and school to avoid the sense of being "lost" and the accompanying stress.

Preschoolers may additionally fear the "loss" of their parents each day because they cannot navigate from the school to where their parents are during the day. A study done as early as 1957 in Britain tested the learning achievements of children who walked or rode their bikes to school versus those who came on buses or in cars. Those who navigated to school themselves learned more while at school. Educational psychologists also suggest that children who have contact with the "ground" by walking or biking are better oriented and relaxed for learning.

Perhaps educators in the 20th century can find a solution to this dilemma by creating a map with the home of each child and their path to the school each day. Children can have a lesson on basic navigational skills and take a map home to follow on their way in a car or bus to and from school until they know how to get to each location or how to instruct someone to drive them each way. Children can also have a map showing them where their parents work in relationship to their school and their home.

This lesson in navigation can create profound sense of the child's geographical place and their place in the fabric of the community. In addition, finding ways to alleviate stress for children in today's society and teach them at the same time is an ideal combination!

Kathleen Karlsen, MA is an artist, writer and design consultant residing in Bozeman, Montana. Kathleen is best known for her contemporary impressionism style and her colorful forest, landscape and flower paintings. Kathleen's original art and fine art gifts can be seen at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com For an extensive article about flower symbolism see http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm To see a selection of Kathleen's flower paintings, please visit http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/originalfloralart.htm