The topic that has been on every parent’s mind- do we send our children back to school or keep them home? For some parents the decision was already made by their school district which mandated virtual learning from the get-go, while for others, the decision weighted heavily on parents’ hearts and minds.
Regardless of the decision you made dear mama, you made the decision you needed to make for your family. As we prepare our children for how this school year will look like, I know many parents are feeling the heaviness of this new way of life that has been thrust upon us all.
Having worked with children in schools, and having my own kids, I’ve been thinking of all parents who are trying to prepare their children whether it’s for in-person schooling or virtual schooling. I devised some tips that may help you prepare your child for what this school year will look like.
- Talk to your child about how things will look like when school begins.
Sounds simple. However sometimes we aren’t sure how to start a conversation with our children or we’re so overwhelmed ourselves. It helps as school approaches and as you find out more from your school district what the safety measures within the school will be to discuss these with your child. Discuss with them the importance of looking after themselves, being mindful of others and their personal space, hand hygiene, masks, and try to explain in appropriate terms the reasoning behind these safety measures. Ask them if they have any questions. Our children have been out of school for months and it’s important we explore the thoughts they may have or worries regarding returning to school.
2. Social Stories
Social stories can really help children understand a concept or challenge that they’re experiencing. You can even have your child draw the pictures that go along with the story. The story can be how your child’s first day of school will go (i.e. wake up, brush teeth, get dressed, have breakfast, go to school, finding that things are different than usual, everyone wearing masks, etc.)
3. Get them involved.
Children love to be helpful and to be involved, especially when it comes to new school supplies. Have your child pick some of their school supplies, including their masks or at least have them involved in opening the packaging and organizing their supplies. Let your child pack their backpack with everything they’ll need (i.e. extra clothes for the little ones, extra masks, school supplies, indoor shoes, etc.). Making a checklist together that can be posted near the door can be a helpful way of getting them involved and also remembering all the items they’ll need to have each day as they head off to school.
4. Drive by their school
If your child is starting at a new school or starting kindergarten, it helps to take them for a drive to their school and show them the yard and familiarize them with where everything is. Even if your child isn’t starting at a new school, they’ve been away from their school for over five months and the anxiety of returning can be reduced by taking them to visit their school before the first day. Show your child where they will likely line up and where parents have to stand as some schools don’t permit parents to enter the school gates or school yard. Practice how drop-off will go and answer any questions they may have.
5. Ask them what they’re most excited about
In the midst of preparing our children for all the new measures they’ll find at school and that they’ll have to follow, it helps to have them think of the positives that they’re looking forward to at school. Try to end discussions around school on a positive note (i.e. what subject are you most looking forward to? What game are you looking forward to playing with your friends at recess? Who are you most excited to see at school?”)
6. Practice coping strategies they can use when feeling sad or overwhelmed at school.
Coping strategies like deep breathing, muscle relaxation and asking for a break when they need one are all important and can help your child feel better when things are difficult at school Some children also find comfort in taking a small item from home that they can keep in their pockets to touch whenever they feel overwhelmed.
Virtual learning preparedness
Talk to your child about how your day will typically look. After spending the past two months of summer break, children need a refresher for what virtual learning will look like. Let them ask questions and give suggestions on what they want the day to look like.
Visual schedule. Visual schedules can be really helpful to remind our children of the events of the day. Children love predictability and thrive off of routine. It should be flexible enough that things can be shuffled around if needed but it helps to post it in an accessible place in the home where your child can see it. It can also help to have your child involved in making the visual schedule.
Designate a place where learning will take place. Have your child design their name plate/place mat where they’ll be sitting for some of their learning. Learning can take place in various places around the home but it helps to have a designated table/desk where they can do some of their work and they know that it is their special spot.
Incorporate movement breaks. Breaks where children have to engage in some form of heavy work (i.e pulling or pushing something against their body’s resistance) can be very helpful in regulating our children. Things such as vacuuming, moving furniture, pulling laundry out of machines, mixing ingredients while cooking/baking, scrubbing tasks, etc.) can be helpful or you can ask them to do some jumping jacks, go outside for a quick walk/run around your home or in the yard.
Don’t compare your virtual learning journey with your child to others’ virtual learning journeys. I know this one is tough with so many online resources and ideas that pop up on our feeds and they are great for inspiration and to provide us with ideas when we’re stuck. However, there is a fine line between inspiration and comparison. If you feel yourself starting to compare your child or your abilities to others’ it helps to take a step back and perhaps avoid social media for a few days and focus on your child and how you’re going about things.
Will everyday go smoothly and end with everyone having a smile on their face? I’d love to believe so but given the reality we’re all in, I think it’s safe to assume that there will be bumps along the way. We will all get through it and our children will learn what they need to know. I think one of the most important things we can do is to keep pouring compassion and empathy onto ourselves and our children as we navigate this new experience we’ve all been faced with. Remember, our children look to us when formulating their ideas and attitudes about something. If we’re unsettled, chances are they will also become unsettled. If they hear us talking about school in a positive manner, they will likely associate it with something positive. It’s normal to feel uneasy about this school year, but let’s try to help our children see the positive aspects they’ll get to experience as well. We can help set the tone for our children and we can help them feel comforted and reassured- which is probably the most important kind of preparation we can do.