How to Emotionally Support Children Returning Back to School

September always brings around a new feeling of dread for parents and children. The change in routine can feel jarring and the amount of work that needs to get done before school starts is always overwhelming. This September, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, those anxieties are on full-throttle. With all the uncertainties (Do they wear a mask at school? Are they meant to bring their own wipes?) upon us, we hope that these tips for a seemless-ish transition can provide you with some comfort and guidance in these...you guessed it...unprecedented times.

Be realistic. It's hard to know how many dangers of the world to share with your child, but right now its important that all students are on the same page for optimal in-home and at-school health and safety. Be as factual and clear as possible when communicating and ask clarifying questions to make sure they've understood.

Don't fear-monger. Even if you're child doesn't seem to understand the repercussions of not being safe, use repetition and lead by example. Kids who are scared might rebel even further because the scare tactics are too much to digest.

Make it fun. Help your child pick out a mask with their favourite movie character on it. Select a 20 second hand washing song as a family. Find little ways to make new health and safety precautions fun.

Stay tuned. Ask your child what they've been learning in school and what their school's precautions are. Try to adapt your home routine around those. Mixed messages can be very confusing for kids in an already confusing time.

Put on your teaching hat. Even if your child is learning at school there is a strong chance that their ability to absorb information is going to be compromised while they get used to the new classroom format. If your child seems to be struggling with their grasp on new concepts, don’t worry. Try your best to carve out some time in your day to go over what they’ve learned and help them with their homework. If you don’t have any spare time yourself, see if you can just spend time with them while you both do some work in the same room. That way when they have a question they can ask you without major interruption.