5 tips to support your child’s mental health as they return to school.
Most of us can remember that “back to school” feeling at the end of August. However, this year, more than other years, your child’s anxiety may be heightened as they return to school in a COVID-19 landscape. The following tips are intended to support your child’s mental health (not to mention your own) as they return to school this fall.
1. How to help your child feel less nervous as they transition back to the classroom.
Speak openly with your child about what they are anxious about and reassure them that their feelings of anxiety and stress are normal. If your child is nervous about COVID-19 precautions, it’s important to be honest about some of the changes they may experience at school this year. Children may be expected to wear face masks and to physically distance themselves from friends. Reassure your child that the safety measures schools put in place are intended to keep teachers, students, and families healthy.
School can help to provide more structure to your child’s day and foster a sense of normalcy during these times of uncertainty. Reminding your child of the positives of returning to school such as seeing their friends and teachers may help them feel at ease.
2. Behavioural issues to look out for as your child returns to school.
Create space for your children to open up about their stress or anxiety about returning to school. Keep an eye out for signs of stress, such as:
• Difficulty concentrating
• Poor sleep or eating patterns
• Irritability
• Worry or negative thoughts
• Restlessness
• Crying
• Complaints of nausea or stomach aches
By modelling calmness and confidence, you can also influence your child’s emotional state. If you are worried about your child, stay connected with their teachers. If mental health issues worsen, seek support through a school counsellor.
3. How to ease your child’s anxiety if they are anxious about their school’s COVID-19 precautions.
It’s important to keep your child informed of any changes they can expect, so you can work to normalize this different return to school. Stay up to date with school policies, and let your children know about changes to classroom size, desk spacing, and lunch or recess activities.
Additionally, emphasizing to your child that they are less at risk of severe symptoms of COVID-19 may help. The Canadian Pediatric Society states that less than 1% of hospitalizations in Canada were among those 19 and under, and there are no associated deaths in this age group.
4. How to check in to see how your child is coping.
It’s normal for emotions to change from day to day. If you’re concerned about how your child is coping, look for consistent changes in behaviour that signify stress.
Children also take emotional cues from the key adults in their lives such as parents or teachers. This means it’s important to check in with yourself and your own mental health. If you’re concerned that your child is not opening up to you about their feelings, creative activities such as playing and drawing can help children to express themselves and communicate any negative feelings they may be having.
5. How to deal with bullying.
We have seen incidents of stigmatization and racism when it comes to the perception of COVID-19 in our country. Explaining to your child that the virus has nothing to do with a person’s appearance, what language they speak, or where they are from, reinforces that we treat all people equally: with kindness and respect.
Remind your children that if they are being bullied at school, it’s important to tell an adult. Additionally, watch out for cyber-bullying if your child is attending school online. Encourage an open dialogue with your child and watch for consistent behavioural changes.
This year’s back to school preparation brings with it some extra precautions and anxieties shared by parents and children alike. It’s important to remember that school is an important part of the social and cognitive development of our children, and to re-emphasize this to ourselves and our children as we send them off to school this fall.