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Navigating Going Back to School Post-COVID

Navigating Going Back to School Post-COVID

October 18, 2022 by Leave a Comment

As the leaves begin to change color and cooler temps descend upon us, kids across the country are heading back to school. This year, many will feel excited yet apprehensive at the same time.

Covid was a stressful time for everyone and kids were hit particularly hard with the lockdowns. While most students are looking forward to seeing their friends and enjoying more social interaction, many will feel nervous and reluctant about returning to in-person classes.

Here are some ways parents can help their kids navigate going back to school post-Covid:

It’s Okay to Not be Okay

Encourage your child to speak openly and honestly with you and their teachers about how they are feeling. Let them know it’s okay to ask for help, whether that’s help navigating a new building, help with schoolwork, or help with processing their emotions.

Help Your Child Set Small Goals

It will be hard for many kids to come back to in-person classes after being out of the classroom for two years. To make this transition as easy as possible, help your child set small, achievable goals for the first week of school. These can be things like locating classrooms, learning teachers’ names, and reconnecting with old friends.

Take Your Child to Orientation

Attending your child’s school’s orientation event will help them feel more at ease. They can map out the school (if it’s new to them), meet their new teachers, and learn what their daily schedule will be. But perhaps most importantly, orientations allows you and your child to explore school support services. These will typically include tutoring and counseling services.

Going back to school has always been something that feels stressful to many kids, but this year in particular, many students will be having a hard time. If you follow these guidelines, your child will feel confident about the year ahead.

SOURCES:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2021/08/01/back-to-school-tips-help-kids-adjust-post-covid/7940286002/

8 ways to approach the return to school

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-man-cave/202009/back-school-after-the-shutdown-helping-kids-and-parents

Filed Under: back to school, COVID

How to Feel Less Stress as a Parent when the Kids Go Back to School

October 4, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Starting a new school year can be super exciting. It can also be stressful, both for the child and the parents. The following are some ways you can ease back into a new schoolyear but leave the stress behind!

Meet the New Teacher

One of the biggest fears many young children have is will they like and feel comfortable with their new teacher. To address this fear, be sure to take advantage of the school’s open house so your child can see exactly where their new classroom is and who their teacher will be.

Find a Familiar Face or Two

Having a familiar, friendly face in the classroom will help put your child at ease. Consider calling parents from last year’s class to find out which kids may be in your child’s class this year. You can help your child reconnect by scheduling a play date before the new year begins.

Get on a Schedule

Children thrive with a solid routine. They also tend to feel less stress when they know their day’s schedule ahead of time. Consider getting some dry erase boards and colorful dry erase board markers to write down the following day’s schedule each night. Knowing which classes and after school activities they have will help your child prepare mentally and you prepare logistically.

Limit Those Extra Curricular Activities

A lot of school-year stress, both for kids and parents, has to do with the number of extra-curricular activities children are involved with these days. When selecting a sport, be sure that there aren’t too many practices each week that will hinder your child’s schoolwork and sleep routine.

Consider following these guidelines so you and your child can have a productive and stress-free school year!

SOURCES:

https://stressfreekids.com/24727/stress-back-to-school/

https://www.verywellfamily.com/tips-to-ease-back-to-school-anxiety-620832

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/back-to-school-tips-for-parents

Filed Under: back to school, Parenting

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