Back-to-School Checklist: How Kids Can Cope at School Amid COVID-19
Pandemic fears can deepen anxiety that kids normally face at start of school year. Make these expert tips part of your back-to-school checklist to help your child get by.
In a normal school year, the back-to-school season typically brings a host of fears and worries to kids of all ages. But, as you’re all too aware, 2020 is anything but normal. The ongoing pandemic continues to turn everyone’s stress levels up to 11, which means your kids need you to be there for them now more than ever.
That’s why a recent article published on HealthDay is a must-read for every mom who has kids in school. The post rounds up expert advice on how parents can and should play an active role in helping children navigate the choppy emotional waters.
Back-toSchool Anxiety: Normal vs. Something Else
According to the Harvard Health Blog, it’s only normal for most kids to experience a bit of anxiety heading into a new school year. During the back-to-school season, children find themselves trying to adjust into a new environment, being separated from parents, and meeting new people. These factors contribute to the usual back-to-school nervousness among young students each year.
But, as specialists from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center mention, back-to-school anxiety affects different children in different ways. Most kids typically get over it early in the academic year. Others may need a bit more time. Some children, however, may require clinical intervention, especially if they start to show:
- Anxiety symptoms that last beyond the initial few weeks of school
- Excessive behaviors such as unwillingness to be away from parents
- Loss of sleep or changes in sleep pattern
- Withdrawal from everyday activities
- Persistent complaints of headaches or stomach pains
Back-to-School Checklist: Helping Your Kids Better Adapt at School Right Now
But what about the uncertainty we face in the era of COVID-19? How does it affect your child’s back-to-school jitters?
Going back to the HealthDay article, experts think the fear of catching the virus or obeying safety guidelines can make coping at school much harder for children. This puts you in a more critical role when it comes to easing your kid’s nervousness.
As such, experts recommend these five steps for you to help children deal with back-to-school anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic:
- Be honest with your child that things are pretty uncertain right now, but let them know you’re always by their side
- Stay open to talking about things that scare your child
- Set an example of being resilient
- Explain health and safety protocols step by step with your child
- Work with support and counseling resources at your child’s school
After you’ve tried out these tips, and you still don’t notice any improvement in your child’s behavior, then it may be time to seek clinical help.
Read the full article on HealthDay
What are other ways you help your child get by at school during the pandemic? Share them in the comments below.
Also, feel free to reach out if you’ve got questions or suggestions, and don’t forget to follow TrendMommy on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
