The past school year (and then some) has been rough for a lot of people. Kids that thrive on social interaction have felt isolated. Masks, social distancing, excessive screen time–it’s all been hard. Learning has not only been lost but in some cases it’s regressed. That doesn’t even cover how parents have felt about the state of things. As students across the country prepare to go back to school there’s bound to be some anxiety. Especially for those students who haven’t been on campus in over a year. So whether you have a first time student, or older kids going back, what can you do for them? How can you help your kids get ready for school this year? It should be noted that I am not a medical professional. These are my own personal observations and opinions.
the effects of COVID-19
Any new school year brings unknown for children and parents alike. But this year might be especially hard. The Census Bureau reported that, “Nearly 93% of people in households with school-age children reported their children engaged in some form of “distance learning” from home”. If you’re among the ones who already homeschooled or had schools that remained open, count yourselves lucky.
Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to perceive the COVID-19 related restrictions of social contacts as a burden, because social contacts are crucial in their development to adulthood.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8005842/
As we prepare to transition from home to school, or a partial schedule to a full schedule, we need to be aware of the concerns our children may have. You know your child best! Should you sit down and have a frank discussion with them? Or would it be better to take a “wait and see” approach? At the very least, be sure to talk with them about the things on campus that may look on different this year. My district is still requiring masks indoors, but has gotten rid of social distancing. Discuss these possible changes so your student can be prepared ahead of time.
| Get free journal writing prompts here! |
help your kids get ready for school
The biggest thing to remember is that our children get their cues from us. If we stay positive and excited, they’re more likely to be as well. Younger kids may benefit from new books that highlight the fun of back to school (I’ve linked to some below). Older kids might stay positive with the promise of an incentive. I find that something like a special date with mom or dad after the first day works great for this. If your child is especially anxious let them know that they can talk to you about it! Some kids think they need to hold everything inside. You want to make sure they always feel like they can come to you to be heard.
| Check out random acts of kindness to perform this school year. |
Of course, just like in any school year you need to make sure you’ve begun reestablishing routines before school starts. The best way to make the summer vacation to school year switch is to start reestablishing routines. Bedtime and wake up times are among those things that have probably gotten lax. It’s also a good idea to organize closets. This way you can make sure things like lunchboxes and shoes that have been forgotten over summer break are found. The last thing you want is to be scrambling as you’re headed out the door on the first day!
No comments yet.