Back to School
“05062014 ED Goes Back to School 5” by US Department of Education is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Back-to-school is usually a time full of mixed emotions. Some kids feel low that their summer break is over, and they have to get back to responsibilities. Others might be excited and anxious about new classes or making new friends. Either way, it’s a time of change in children’s lives. But this year’s back to school is going to induce more heightened emotions than ever. The prolonged pandemic has made us accustomed to a lot of new ways of living. On top of that, it has been more than a year since most kids last attended physical classes.
So, how can you prepare kids to go back to school with a healthy mind? Let’s take a look.
How you can make it easier for your children to get back to school
Talk to them about what they can expect
Anticipation can take the sting out of an upcoming difficult situation. You can talk about things that might be different because of the safety precautions or how they might feel different with their friends and teachers because they have been out of school for too long, so adjusting back might be difficult for some time. Still, things will get back to normal in a couple of weeks. If you are not straight with them, it won’t help them. So, prepare your child, and manage their expectations. Support them to manage their worries if they have any. Set aside time to have conversations with your child a week or two before school starts and begin coaching them. “Are you excited?”, “Do you feel prepared?” etc., so they can have a more prepared mindset.
Start maintaining back-to-school rituals early
Familiarity and routine are essential for children. It helps them go about their day more productively, have better self-control, develop healthy habits, deal with stress better and be less anxious. Because of the pandemic, many kids will be missing a sense of structure in their eating, sleeping, studying, and playing times. Try practicing the school routine earlier. This could include setting a fixed time for bed, eating a meal with the family at the same time each day, spending time outdoors together, doing family chores, etc. The more accustomed they are to a school routine before the school starts, the easier it will be for them to adjust.
Validate your child’s feelings
Periods of separation from parents, picking up responsibilities again, fear of being affected by the virus, or a change in school dynamics can all be overwhelming and frightening for your child. As a parent, you can play a significant part in helping them manage their stress and anxieties. Include your children in your decision for their new routines and habits and pay attention to when they express fears or worries. When you make them a part of the process instead of just telling them what to do, it is easier for them to clear out their fears and adjust to things better. Also, don’t make going back to school an all-grim experience. Remind them of the good stuff, such as hanging out with their friends again, having to be a part of more fun activities instead of sitting home all day, etc., so they have something good to look forward to. Understand your child’s tolerance level and how much they can take and support them kindly and calmly.
“School” by Krzysztof Pacholak is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
