WELLBEING 

Back to School Nerves During COVID

This week I read an article from “Be You” about how to help kids handle fears and gain independence. I thought it would be important to share some key messages from the article with you all as we come to the end of the term and the look forward to returning to school in Term 4. 

The article was written by Caroline Miller and outlined that anxiety was one of the major factors concerning students returning back to the classroom and being separated from their parents. Being separated from their family members after being at home together for so long may trigger “separation anxiety” for some. It is important for both families and teachers to be aware of this as we start the transition process.

For most of our students the excitement of going back to school will outweigh their anxiety. They will be excited to be reunited with their friends and teachers and get back into a “normal” school routine. 

It is important that we reassure our children that it’s safe to be away from our families and encourage them to be careful when at school. The article pinpointed 6 key areas to help families prepare their children for transitioning back to school.

1.Validate their feelings

It is important that parents stay calm and positive. If your child starts vocalising their concerns about returning to school, it is important to allow them to share their feelings and validate them. “It is okay to feel worried about returning back to school, but you are lucky that you will get to play with your best friend at recess and lunch time again”.

2. Set the tone

If you are feeling anxious yourself about the return to school, try not to let your children see this in you. If they have questions answer them the best way you can and stay calm. But try and avoid asking questions first like “are you nervous about going back to school tomorrow?” Work together to ask and answer questions and manage the situation calmly. Remember to keep children focused on the positive thing about school and what they have missed while working remotely. If these conversations don’t work Dr Jennifer Louie a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute recommends “transitional objects” like a stone, a button or handkerchief to bring with them from home. This can help children still feel connected to home when they are at school.

3. Practice separating

Over the school holidays or before school starts practice having time away from your children. It may be something like asking children to play in their bedroom by themself, while you are in the kitchen making dinner. This will encourage children to build tolerance and independence. 

4. Have a routine

Over the holidays it is important to keep a predictable routine. Encourage children to not sleep in too long, make their bed every morning, get dressed and don’t stay up too late. This will allow them to stay prepared for our school routine. Practice walking past school and reminding them where they will be dropped off each day and collected. Remind them that you will leave them at the gate and be welcomed by one of the teachers each day.

5. Emphasize safety measures

We are lucky that we have already been back to school once. Remind your children of the routine we had when we were at school. Children were welcomed by their teachers each morning, they would go and wash their hands before starting the day, and they would constantly be reminded to wash hands after learning time and before eating. They may also be temperature checked when they arrive each morning. Remind them that our school has been planning for minimum risk and to keep everyone safe when at school.

6. Encourage flexibility

This year we have all had to be flexible with the ever changing rules. Remind your children that even when we go back to school we need to be flexible for whatever life throws at us, but to remember to stay calm and that they will always be safe. 

After family discussions if you still feel like your child is struggling with returning to school please contact your child’s classroom teacher or myself and together we can put some practices into place to make this transition back to school easy for everyone. We can also provide contact details to our school psychologist Brigette Caruana from Minds that Matter.

Please continue to stay safe and well over the holidays,

Miss Anthea Georgiou

Student Wellbeing Leader