Tips on Heading Back to School during and after COVID-19

In-person Learning during Covid Pandemic

Back to School: Tips to Help Your Childs Transition to In-Person Learning

Heading back to school can be exciting – under normal circumstances. Going back to in-person learning after a pandemic, however, might be more of a challenge for kids. COVID-19 has caused serious disruptions to our daily lives, and children have only just begun settling into remote learning. Now, as cases are on the decline and vaccines are becoming more widespread, it’s time to head back to the classroom for in-person learning once again.

While some students will be excited about heading back to the classroom, others may feel frightened or anxious. Here are some tips to help your family navigate an unusual back to school season:

Re-establish Routine

Humans are creatures of habit. When we know what to expect, we can thrive. Talk with your children about the importance of routine. Discuss and normalize feelings that may be coming up about creating or re-establishing a new routine, and work together as a family to design a routine that works for everyone. It's always helpful to practice a new routine at least one week before school starts so that the first morning goes smoothly. Bonus tip: Keep two baskets, one for clean masks and one for dirty masks, close to the door to help with a smooth transition to and from school.

Address Anxieties

Talking through a child’s concerns about returning to school helps ease the transition back to in-person learning. Validate their feelings with phrases like “I can understand why you’d feel that way,” and “it’s okay to feel nervous. Identifying emotions can help children understand why they’re anxious or worried, and discussing these feelings together can reassure your child that you’re behind them every step of the way.

Model Flexibility and How to Use Coping Skills

It's okay to be realistic about the fact that school may feel and even look different. There will be situations at school in which children might not know what to do or feel uncomfortable. Normalize the emotions that come with those situations, and explore ways they can they cope with these emotions. You can help them focus on the things they can control, such as how to wear a mask correctly and proper handwashing, rather than the list of things they can’t possibly know or control. Practicing different scenarios ahead of time is also a good way to give kids a sense a control. In addition, letting them know they can play an active role in the safety and well-being of everyone at school gives them something tangible they can do in a time of so much uncertainty.

Prioritize Sleep

A tired child is an unhappy child. While bedtime routines may have been altered once schools went online, it’s time to get back in the swing of things. Start winding down after dinner with bathtime, story time, and lullabies. Then follow up the next morning with a healthy breakfast. Quality sleep and food provide an excellent foundation for learning, no matter the circumstances.

Get Support

It’s not always easy to know when children are having a hard time. Some children soldier through, bearing the weight and grief of change without ever acknowledging their feelings aloud. Others lash out aggressively, while others complain of physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches.

If you’re concerned about your child’s struggle to navigate this unusual back to school season, it may be time to seek help from a mental health professional. A few sessions with a therapist can help your child learn valuable coping skills they can use for a lifetime of change. Heading back to school won’t be the last transition your child will experience, and they’ll need your help to manage feelings of anxiety and discomfort.