By Dr. Jillian Glasgow
Heading back to school this fall is complicated, to say the least. With all the new rules and uncertainty, there are undoubtedly pages of advice and resources we can give at this time. But to keep this short, here are just a few suggestions to help parents stay balanced and support their children this fall.
- Validate. Normalize any of the emotions you or your children may be feeling (e.g., anxiety about having to socialize after so much time away from school, anger that the pandemic is ongoing and interfering with regular coursework, sadness that this school year is different than you had expected).
- Practice radical acceptance of you the things you cannot change about this year, whether your children are attending virtually or in-person. Acceptance does not mean liking the situation, but instead accepting that reality “it is what it is” right now, which can increase sadness in the short-term, but help you move forward in the long-term.
- Maintain a consistent schedule for both you and your kids, especially if your children are attending virtually. Schedule time for schoolwork, socializing, self-care (e.g., exercise, eating, bedtime routines), and sleep. It may take some time to settle into a schedule so be flexible with yourself if things don’t go as planned these first few weeks!
- Use mindfulness to stay in the present moment. Given the uncertainty of the ongoing pandemic, we don’t know how things will change in the future. Though perhaps more difficult to do, it is more helpful to stay focused on the present moment and doing what is more effective right now. You will handle changes as they come.
- Use accurate information from reputable sources when discussing Covid-19 with your children, and help them to check the facts on information they might hear at school or in the media. Some ways to identify legitimate sources can be found here and you can use Google Fact Check Explorer or other tools to fact check.
Children attending school virtually comes with some additional concerns:
- Children will require a place to attend that minimizes distractions while also balancing other family needs like access to common areas and family privacy. Some suggestions are having children in a separate room from other family members, considering camera angles, and planning/coping ahead for parents concerned about decreased privacy.
- Tech issues will interfere with learning, so some suggestions are to make sure devices are plugged in or fully charged, that you have access to required devices (arranged through principles), and that children sit as close as possible to wifi routers.
- Children attending virtually will also be at increased risk of mental health concerns as they will not be as behaviourally active. Be watchful for signs of declining mental health (e.g., sleeping during the day, decreasing school attendance or homework completion, withdrawing, not eating regularly) and be prepared to transition them to in-person classes in the new semester. You can help prevent mental health issues by making sure children are participating in other activities outside the home (e.g., exercise classes, work, volunteering, regular exercise, social time with friends, etc).
This year is not what anyone expected and now we have to make the best of it. Good luck parents, and reach out to therapists, family, and friends for support as you need it!
Additional Resources
Images
Sikkema, K. (2020). Girl Reading with Mask on. UnSplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/r2hTBxEkgWQ.