College offers puppies and coloring books to deal with finals stress

[Hikergirl]

That's like saying you're raising your kids in a way where they'll never need chemotherapy. I hope they never do, but it's beyond your control.

Really, you are equating puppies and coloring books to chemotherapy?

 

[Southernmiss]

Now that I think about it, I think I bought my niece a coloring book and colors as a moving off to college gift 4 years ago and told her it was a little something to help her destress.

Imagine that, she's successfully completed her BSN and will graduate in December and has a job working on the orthopedic floor of a hospital. Probably treating folks who think we're too soft on this generation.

 

[DawnM]

Apparently you're not the first to notice this:

"
Quotes > Quotable Quote

“The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.”

― Socrates

Yes, I have seen that before. But that doesn't negate our current concerns.

And I am not sure Socrates actually said that.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Interesting thread! This is literally not something I ever knew existed until the past few weeks. It certainly wasn't something we looked for, or was called to our attention, as we were doing college searches all last year for two incoming freshmen. However, I think it's great.

My DD takes advantage of everything, pretty much, going on at school. And there have been lots of "little things" that have made her adjustment to college just a little bit more fun and less stressful. I hadn't heard about puppies (she would've been there in a heartbeat!) but I've heard about snacks around school, BBQs, root beer floats, pumpkin carving, other arts and crafts (which she's all about), etc. These things made her smile, relax a little, meet new people, and undoubtedly helped her adjust to her new environment. As such, I can't see the down side. As far as coloring books go, interestingly, the day after the election, she was passing by the "coloring book section" in the student union building, so naturally, as always, she stopped to color a bit. The strangest thing was that the coloring book had a very vulgar, almost shocking, term on the outside of it. She noted it seemed an odd contrast to what was supposed to be a soothing activity, but she colored for a few minutes anyway and went on her way.

I work in a very stressful environment. Fortunately the leaders in my organization recognize that day in and day out stress negatively affects people - not only in their moods, but their actual health. (Over the years I recall at least two suicides, many addiction disorders and stress-related illnesses of coworkers.) So they take various (and numerous) steps to help us cope with stress. Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School is the father of Mind/Body Medicine. I've been fortunate enough to take one of his seminars about the long term effects of stress in our lives, which, according to him, is cumulative - its build up can actually push someone who's prone to illness over into a disease state. Many of us are walking around day in and day out in a highly stressed state. Just read the news and we can see the effects of it. Not really sure why anyone today would begrudge others for helping people learn to de-stress. As a society we could all benefit by working on it more so that we're not all so tense all the time, IMO.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm not at all concerned. I've seen the good that this generation is capable of, and their determination to make this world a better place.

And I've also known college aged kids who committed suicide because of the stress levels.

I'll take the puppies and coloring books any time over getting that news.

 

[DawnM]

Now that I think about it, I think I bought my niece a coloring book and colors as a moving of to college gift 4 years ago and told her it was a little something to help her destress.

Imagine that, she's successfully completed her BSN and will graduate in December and has a job working on the orthopedic floor of a hospital. Probably treating folks who think we're too soft on this generation.

I am sure there is a lot more to that story than, "I bought my niece a coloring book and she turned out well."

 

[Southernmiss]

I am sure there is a lot more to that story than, "I bought my niece a coloring book and she turned out well."

And the point was that a little coloring is not going to make or break anyone in the long run. But it might be a nice gesture to get through their day or week.

Like a reminder to 'take time to smell the flowers'.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

And the point was that a little coloring is not going to make or break anyone in the long run. But it might be a nice gesture to get through their day or week.

Like a reminder to 'take time to smell the flowers'.

Thanks for bringing that up. I meant to include it in my post!

I think that's exactly what it is - taking time to smell the roses!

 

[DawnM]

And the point was that a little coloring is not going to make or break anyone in the long run. But it might be a nice gesture to get through their day or week.

Like a reminder to 'take time to smell the flowers'.

I guess i didn't read it that way because of the sarcasm in your post about "those people" she works with.

 

[perditax]

I guess i didn't read it that way because of the sarcasm in your post about "those people" she works with.

It is traditionally the older generation who complains about the younger generation being lazy and shiftless. Meanwhile the younger generation complains the older generation ruined the economy. And thus the circle of life marches on.

 

[PlutoPony]

I am also making a list of schools that offer this kind of crap so they can avoid going to them LOL

If you ask each school you look at what they do to help students cope during finals week, I think you will be surprised to find that every school does something. You list of acceptable schools may be much smaller than you anticipate....

I can see why finals can be particularly stressful....I've lost track of the number of classes where my son has shown me the average grade on the final is in the 50-60% range and the distribution is tight. This is info the school publishes btw and he's in a top 10 engineering program. These students would LOL if they heard the sentiment that they were coddled by being able to pet puppies during finals week.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't think nearly as many people would be scoffing at the puppies and coloring if it hadn't all come about in the wake of the invention of "safe spaces".

 

[FINFAN]

Maybe these students will include some of their coloring pages attached to their resume's.Ironically, My DD graduated from an Art college obtaining her Bachelor's in Computer Animation~program nearly killed her but no puppies, ponies or coloring books there lol. That said, she now works/lives in San Francisco and bringing your dog to work is heavily accepted so guess it is carrying over to the real world.

 

[MrsDuck]

Come on, most people's day and mood improve when they see a cute animal. Coddling? Whatever.

 

[LilyWDW]

I guess I am some weakling since my cats and coloring books are two ways I deal with stress in my adult life. Oh well. I'll take being a well adjusted weakling over being stressed all the time or judgmental about others.

 

[mom2rtk]

I play with my cat and I scrapbook. Not much different. I guess my home could be considered a "safe space".

But I still raise an eyebrow when I hear about colleges doing it for students.

Don't ask me to explain it. I'm conflicted that way.

 

[PlutoPony]

I'd like to say that if students find good, healthy ways to cope with stress in college they will carry that with them when they get out in the "real world". And isn't part of college learning about yourself and growing?

 

[Southernmiss]

If you ask each school you look at what they do to help students cope during finals week, I think you will be surprised to find that every school does something. You list of acceptable schools may be much smaller than you anticipate....

I can see why finals can be particularly stressful....I've lost track of the number of classes where my son has shown me the average grade on the final is in the 50-60% range and the distribution is tight. This is info the school publishes btw and he's in a top 10 engineering program. These students would LOL if they heard the sentiment that they were coddled by being able to pet puppies during finals week.

Yep. Ds was studying for a test in his major of pharmecology the week he was home for Thanksgiving. He even left 2 days early to get back to school to study. The professor had told them the average grade on this test material was 50. No pressure.

Fortunately ds made a 'B' on the test.

 

[indimom]

Another new college parent who never heard of the puppies, coloring books or safe spaces while searching for our daughter's university.
As her first semester has progressed, we did find out that such opportunities exist.
There were dogs on campus during midterms and they'll be back during finals. Our daughter did take a short break to pet a couple dogs and enjoyed it. More because she loves dogs and misses her two at home than because she was over stressed by her exams.
Honestly, I would like to think that all young adults are prepared for college or career before they get to it. I feel like my daughter was well prepared for the stress of college life long before now. But, realistically, I know that isn't the case for every young person. Some may have little experience with stress and dealing with it on their own. Some may have had poor examples of "healthy" stress relief.
So, if activities like these help one student find a better way to handle their personal stressors, what's the big deal?

 

[Magpie]

I play with my cat and I scrapbook. Not much different. I guess my home could be considered a "safe space".

But I still raise an eyebrow when I hear about colleges doing it for students.

Don't ask me to explain it. I'm conflicted that way.

I think part of conflict comes from a common perception that "school = employment".

But, if you think about it, it'd be an awfully strange place of employment where you paid your employer, versus your employer paying you. And where many of you actually live in your place of employment, paying them even more for that privilege, too. Some of you even pay them to feed you.

Far as I've always been concerned, we don't work FOR our schools, they work for us. We've engaged them to educate us.

And universities are places of residence for many students, and as such offer much more than just lessons. Heck, my mother-in-law lives in a senior's residence where they offer yoga, boxing, board games, massage therapy, bean bag tosses, etc... Are we coddling our seniors? Creating an entire generation of dependent oldsters who expect to have their hand held? What's the difference between the entertainment and wellness offerings at her residence, versus a student residence AKA a university?