How does the child’s mood affect his path in school?

Oman – Mood is a basic psychological state, which can be positive (good) or negative (bad). And the mood differs from the character and personality traits, which are among the things that remain for a longer period. Mood swings are normal and are indicative of an underlying disease only when they are excessive, persistent, and interfere with the course of daily life.

And mood swings can affect children as well as adults. These fluctuations revolve around how children get along with their families at home, or with their peers and teachers at school.

“The child’s mood has far-reaching effects on his academic performance, as negative moods (such as sadness or anxiety) can hinder concentration, motivation, and learning ability, which leads to a decrease in his academic achievement,” says Rola Abu Bakr, a psychological and educational counselor.

Mood also affects social interactions. When a child is in a positive mood, this reflects positively on his interactions with his peers and teachers, building meaningful relationships and promoting a supportive learning environment.

Conversely, a negative mood can lead to withdrawal and cause difficulties in communicating with others, which hinders a child’s social development, as emotional comfort is closely related to mood as well. Mood swings can affect a child’s self-esteem and mental health, which confirms the importance of securing an appropriate emotional environment, according to Rula Abu Bakr.

effective communication

Counselor Rula Abu Bakr believes that effective communication between parents, teachers and counselors is essential to understanding and supporting the overall development of a child. Parents, teachers and counselors can identify a child’s strengths, talents and interests through open dialogue with him and after exposing him to different environments.

This knowledge provides a range of good opportunities for support and enrichment, with the aim of enabling the child to excel in areas in which he appears strong. On the other hand, communication makes it possible to identify and modify the child’s weaknesses. Parents, teachers, and counselors can implement individualized strategies and interventions that promote child growth and progress, according to Rola.

The psychological counselor points out that digital means of communication, such as email or digital platforms, can be used to maintain regular contact between teachers and parents, exchanging relevant information, creating a strong foundation for communication, and creating an environment conducive to the success of the child.

child’s mood

Child psychiatry consultant Dr. Amjad Jumailan says that knowing the child’s mood is very important in dealing with it, whether on the part of parents or teachers at school, explaining that there are several types and forms of moods in children.

And both point out that famous studies have tried to know the mood of the child, such as the long study conducted by psychologists Stella Chase and Alexander Thomas, in which children were divided into 3 groups:

• The easy kid: Who has the ability to adapt positively and respond to the environment with less intensity, and deal with difficulties. This type of child is the least exposed to psychological problems because of his ability to adapt.
• The shy kid: Who adapts slowly to the environment, he is shy when he meets new friends, and his response to difficulties requires effort, which leads to the emergence of some psychological problems, and sometimes this child withdraws when he is under pressure.
• “The Difficult Child” It can be described as a difficult child who does not adapt to the environment around him, in addition to being prone to anxiety when he encounters difficulties or a change in the environment, which sometimes exposes him to behavioral disorders, so he becomes aggressive, and always causes problems at home or at school.

Chase and Thomas point out in the study that there are 9 traits that affect mood: activity, rhythm and regularity, response to new things, adaptability, sensitivity, response, arrangement, distractibility, and attention span.

The counselor believes that the characteristics of the children’s moods are multiple, and each child is different from the other. Therefore, parents and caregivers can measure the child’s response in certain situations, and plan targeted activities to secure a constructive environment for the child at school.

Child’s mood and improve his school experience

Published by “Great Schools” (greatschools) A report on the importance of parents’ cooperation with teachers in understanding the child’s mood to improve his experience at school through the following points:

• Awareness of individual differences in children’s temperament is important for teachers in classroom management. So you have to talk to the teacher about your child’s temperament, and honestly admit that he is shy or that he is energetic. Make it clear to the teacher that you are ready to work with your child at home.
• When parents and teachers reformulate their understanding of a child’s behavior, they provide a way of knowing how to respond to that behavior. Teachers may change the way the classroom is organized, and parents may adjust the daily routine of family life to ensure the child’s comfort.
• It is important for teachers to understand the nature of a child’s temperament to determine how to deal with it in the classroom.