Helping Kids Through Burnout

Ah, the end of the school year: seniors are totally checked out, juniors are (momentarily) regretting their decision to take so many AP classes, and freshmen and sophomores are wheedling teachers about extra credit opportunities. This is the time of the year when we see the most burnout among students. If you’re a parent whose kid is on their last legs, here are some strategies we use in lessons to help them.

Helping Kids Through Burnout

Seniors:

To be honest, this is often a losing battle (few can take up arms against senioritis and emerge victorious), but if a student really needs to keep grades up or finish strong, this is how we help them:

• Break down any remaining assignments into smaller pieces. When seniors lose focus, sometimes the only way to get them back is to give them tiny tasks to complete one at a time. 

• Compartmentalize upcoming tests. It’s hard to study for several tests at once, so we often encourage seniors to dedicate a day to each subject. For example: Monday, study for math and take that final on Tuesday; Tuesday night, study for history and take that final on Wednesday; and so on. 

• Plan a big reward. I’ve seen parents use graduation parties, dinner with friends, or even gifts as effective rewards for completing the school year. For reluctant seniors, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel can often help them stagger through the final weeks of high school. 

Juniors:

Because juniors are staring down the barrel of senior year and often their first AP exams, this can be a time of high stress. Here’s what we have found often works with them:

• A time of “reduced work” as soon as AP and IB exams are done. Most AP and IB classes take their foot off the gas once the exams are over, and that’s a huge help for struggling juniors. If they’re already committed to taking the SAT or ACT in June that’s fine, but we don’t recommend piling on college application work in May if the student really needs a break.

• Some type of wellness treatment. 16-year-olds are spry, but they often don’t know their bodies well enough to relieve their own tension after a period of high stress. A massage, spa day, or even just a few walks in the park can help juniors detox their cortisol. This also works well as a reward for getting through a tough season!

Sophomores:

While sophomore year is generally easier than junior year, sophomores are not immune to end-of-year stress. If they’re not doing well, here are some ideas:

• If they have any “zeros” in the gradebook, talk to the teacher immediately. Zeros absolutely sink grades, and even getting a 50% on a missing assignment or test can help rescue that grade.

• Schedule homework or studying before “fun” activities. While many students are aching to go hang out with their friends, if they can finish an assignment before their fun hang-out, they’ll be able to enjoy their “fun time” more and not have to worry about the assignment they have to do when they get home. Our tutors will often help students schedule their homework time for the hour or two immediately after they get home. That way they’re free for the rest of the night.

Freshmen:

Many freshmen are still reeling from adjustment to high school, even at the end of freshman year. If they’re stressed out, here are some ideas.

• Same as sophomores: if they have any “zeros” in the gradebook, talk to the teacher immediately. Freshmen often don’t realize how badly zeros hurt their grade, and they may be unaware that the one assignment they forgot to turn in is turning their B into a C.

• Break down finals and assignments into smaller pieces. Freshmen may not be used to a heavier high school workload, and the number of assignments and tests at the end of the year can feel overwhelming. We’ve found it effective to set specific assignments or tasks each day: finish this math homework on Monday night and turn it in, then work on the English outline after it’s turned in. This can help them focus on one task at a time and start checking assignments off the list.

Do you have any tools or strategies that you’ve found effective for helping kids suffering from burnout? If you do, please email us at info@kingfisherprep.com and let us know; we always want to help as many students as we can!

Helping Kids Through Burnout - Written by Nathaniel Dolquist, Head Mentor & CEO, Kingfisher Prep.