Back to school: Stress-free
The days to schools reopening are getting close! This entails a new classroom or school, new teachers, new classmates, new routines = lot of news! This can be stressful, triggering, or overwhelming for some children.
Unfortunately, this is one of those situations where holding your child deep in your arms and never letting go is not the solution! Unfortunately, we cannot take the school away. Unfortunately, there is no magic trick to take the stress away. BUT there are some things you can do before school starts, that can hopefully help them cope with the stress.
Warning signs: If you have noticed your child becoming easily tearful or distressed lately, if they are reporting stomach or headaches as it gets closer to schools opening, if they are reporting increased levels of worry, or their moods are quickly changing; if they haven’t been sleeping well or on their own and show increased attachment to either parent = these might be signs of school-related stress, or even early school avoidance.
Below are some tips of how you can help your child these few days before getting back to school:
Practice: It is important for the child to have a clear image of the first day of school; not only can this prepare them, but it gives them a bigger sense of control of the situation, but also increase their investment in school. You can help by practicing together a few mornings and afternoons - trying on the school uniform, packing their breakfast with them, preparing their school bag, and, yes, practicing the goodbyes in the morning and hello’s at lunch! This way, their school routine will be well remembered and learned = not something new, unknown, or intimidating.
Goal setting: Why not adopt a goal-setting mindset? Review their previous year of school, what they learned, what they achieved, what they practiced, and how they aim to improve this year! It doesn’t need to only involve academics, it may be making one new friend, raising their hand more often in class, or playing a new game at recess. And why not make a chart, poster, or reminder of this goal at home?
Remember: It was a long summer break from school for your little one! Why not take a few minutes each day to practice their handwriting by writing a card to their teacher or their friend? Or even practice their reading and numbers? This can ensure a smoother transition to work mode.
Reminder: Your child is returning to school during a worldwide pandemic. Yes, they have been taught during COVID-19 time before, with protocols in place, but they have not been exposed to this in several months. So spend some time reminding them or discussing with them what measures are put in place and how they feel about this.
Bed routine: It is recommended that their school bedtime routine is established prior to school starting. This can help minimise stress, and maximise preparedness for back-to-school!
Communication: When school opens, it is a good idea to privately inform your child’s teachers about their worries, and maintain communication in how they are coping at school, as well as creating some short- and long-term plans of support.
If stress persists, it can be helpful to facilitate a multi-disciplinary meeting at school, between the child’s teachers, principal, psychologist, parents, and child (if the age is appropriate) to ensure everyone involved is on the same page.