The 2020-2021 lockdown has been a tough time for kids as well as their parents, they have all dealt with difficulties in balancing school, work and recreational activities by staying at home, while dealing with all the stress about the pandemic. Correspondingly, going back to school brings its own adjustments and challenges for them. There are several reasons why returning to school might seem difficult right now and kids may experience a range of emotions including stress, irritability, worry, fear and sadness. There are a number of causative factors. Some of which might include:
- Kids might be feeling astounded by the pandemic and its effects, they might be uncertain about what to expect, or having a general feeling of anxiety which kids commonly feel by the end of vacations.
- They may feel easy and safe at home, in a more comfortable environment rather than in the school environment.
- Being at home for such a longer period of time may have lessened their motivation, resilience, abilities of dealing with difficulties in learning and relationships with peers.
- Kids may be afraid of getting Coronavirus or feel anxious about infecting their friends and families.
However, you can help your child make the adjustment into their school routine and ease them into any changes that it may bring by planning ahead.
How do you know if your young one is struggling with anxiety in going back to school after Covid-19?
You know there is something wrong if your kid is showing:
- Anxiety, such as symptoms like headaches, feeling stressed, headaches, vertigo, nausea, stomach ache and disturbed sleep etc.
- Behaviors like ignoring school related stuff, going out or speaking about school, not willing to go to school, seeking a lot of assurance or asking a lot of questions, not finding happiness in things they used to enjoy.
Preparing your kid mentally for going back to school:
Going to school after being in a Lockdown for an extended period of time may make kids feel like they are being rushed into an extreme situation. Following are some ways to help the kids in dealing with anxiety in going back to school after vacations / lockdown:
- Talk to them about the concerns they are having, about going back to school, take those concerns seriously. Think of how difficult educational and social pressure can be, do not add in additional stress for returning to school after lockdown. Be careful not to depreciate and underestimate the concerns.
- Tell kids about how important is it to go to school in order to stay in routine and to learn the things that can’t be leant by staying at home, tell them about their resilience and encourage brave behavior.
- Motivate kids to learn and give rewards for positive learning behaviors.
- Encourage healthy sleep cycles, help your kid start getting to bed earlier and getting up early in the morning a week even before school begins.
- Make a clear plan that can help if kids feel anxious in school, like talking to somebody at school, deep breathing, letting the feelings to pass or using some relaxation techniques.
- Help the kids in homework and extracurricular activities, Practice healthy and fun activities together, including fitness and relaxation exercises to minimize the chances of stress and anxiety in kids.
Not only for parents and kids but there are some implications for schools too, to bring about stress free and healthier environments for the reopening of schools after lockdown.
Keywords:
- Preparing your kid mentally for going back to school
- Going to school after being in a Lockdown for an extended period
- How are Kids Going to Return to School for 2021 after Lockdown?
- How do you know if your young one is struggling with anxiety in going back to school after Covid-19?
- Why returning to school might seem difficult?