How to prepare your little one for classroom

The back-to-school week that kicks off today with more pupils returning, could see children experiencing anxiety and nervousness as they adjust to the “new normal”.

The national department of education announced that only Grades 6 and 11 pupils will go back to the classrooms today, with schools that are ready for Grade Rs also allowed to reopen.

But according to the United Nations International Children’s Fund (Unicef), children may be reluctant and nervous to return after being at home for so long. They may find it difficult to socially distance from teachers and friends while at school.

“While the return to school will be not only welcomed but exciting for many students, others will be feeling anxious or frightened,” Unicef said.

Smaller children could face possible anxiety from separating from their parents whom they had spent extensive time with during the lockdown.

Other anxieties might be brought on by adjusting to the new rules to be followed at school, said educational psychologist Anel Annandale.

“With a lot of little ones we are again going to see separation anxiety. They have been at home with mom and dad for so long that suddenly there is a total adjustment of going to school again.”

It was important to reassure the children their safety was top priority and to prepare them for the changes they should expect at school, Allandale said.

“Assure them that schools, teachers and parents are doing all they can to try and keep children healthy and from contracting the virus. Also reassure them that we have found studies showing that – unlike what we first thought – kids are not spreaders and are not easily susceptible to this disease and are likely to recover really well if they do get it. Parents need to reassure as much as they can.”

Unicef suggested parents should remind their children of the positives of seeing their friends and teachers and learning new things should they be hesitant to return to school.

Another way to ease them into going back was to prepare them on what the school would now look like, said Annandale.

“What the teacher might look like, wearing a mask, how far away from their friends they should stand.”

But a new concerning trend of “corona-bullying” has come up: children touch their classmate’s belongings to tease them about catching the coronavirus.

“All parents should prepare their children that it is not okay to touch other children’s items and teachers specifically need to look out for that,” said Annandale.