School has been in session for a few weeks now, but is your child comfortable being back in the classroom? In some school districts, children were home for more than a year, but now they are back and trying to readjust. This can cause some stress for children, especially with constant reminders to stay safe and healthy. It may not be easy for your child to be back in the classroom full time, so if this is the case for you, here are some ways you can help your child adjust to school.
Understand Their Feelings
It’s hard to remember what it was like to be a kid. It is also a lot different being a child today than it was when you were younger. Social media, the internet, and the fast pace of learning and absorbing information is a lot to handle for a little kid. This can create anxiety that is not typically seen till the teenage years. Helping your child with anxiety may be difficult, but if you can learn more about it and come to see where the potential source of the anxiety is coming from, you may be able to help your child create a plan that will make them feel more relaxed. Talk to them! It's okay to ask them what they're frightened of or what the biggest worry is on their mind. Don't feel like this discussion is taboo.
Create a Schedule
Sometimes anxiety comes from the unknown. We are living in a time where everything is changing so fast and so drastically that it can be hard for a child to come to grips with their lives changing by the day. If you can create a structured schedule for your child, it may alleviate some of the negative feelings that come with the unknown. Strict bedtimes, a set homework schedule, and regular meal times will give your child the stability they may need to feel control over their day and that not everything is uncertain in their world. Allow them to contribute ideas (have them suggest their own bedtimes, within reason, or let them pick out the time they will complete their homework each day).
Openly Communicate
Sometimes a child doesn’t know how to start a conversation. As the adult, if you broach the subject with them, they may be more likely to talk. Many kids are too timid to start a conversation, especially if they feel the subject matter will cause their parents to be alarmed. If you can start the conversation by showing that you are okay with the subject matter, then your child may be more likely to tell you what’s bothering them.
Help With Homework
With so much going through their mind, your child may not be focusing well in school. If you can, sit down with them while they are doing their homework and help them understand the material. If your child feels prepared going into class they will have less worry about attending school. They won’t feel behind or not smart enough. Doing homework with them also shows them that you are a support system they can rely on when times get tough and they need a little help.
Above all, stay positive. Pick your battles and remember that your children are going through so many things that we never experienced as children. Have patience with them and remain a source of safety and support for them.
