Dr Eddie Murphy Changing schooldays

How do you deal with the stresses of going to school in a pandemic? Dr Eddie Murphy has some tips to smooth schooldays

Every child returning to school will need support in the context of Covid-19. For most kids, Covid-19 is a mild disease, but it can nonetheless be tough on their mental health. Nobody is immune to the stress that comes with this pandemic and its social effects. Children are at particular risk – they have been through something confusing and difficult to comprehend; they have been away from school, friends and that support. Yes, children have returned to school, but it’s early days yet and I hope for their sake and their parents’ that they can stay in school and that the perhaps inevitable outbreaks are not too disruptive, socially and emotionally, not to mention educationally.

My two lads are semi-feral at this stage, late nights, no homework done since March! In my view, teachers are essential workers and just like healthcare staff go to hospitals every day, so too our teachers, who need to be supported to see the importance of their role.

For first-timers, the majority of parents wonder how our little ones are going to adapt to the big change of starting school, but even more so now. Indeed, it’s a change for the parents too and no doubt there will be tears and happiness, all normal reactions to this way-post in the journey of life. While going to school for the first time can be exciting for some children, it is stressful for others. Any sudden change in a child’s routine can make it extremely stressful for the child. It is important as a parent that you deal with any anxieties or fears you may have. Children can pick up on such anxieties, making them feel stressed about the idea of starting school and being separated from you. Here are some tips that might help:

1

Listen – The first and probably the most important thing you can do for your child to ease any fears or anxieties, is to listen to them and their feelings about school. Most children adapt quickly and will understand the new routines of distance, pods and bubbles. Get them to explain this to you so you can check if they understand it correctly.

2

Social stories – Social stories are in effect a coaching skill by telling a story about a social situation in advance, what the school day is like – hand washing, sanitising, coats off, sitting down, small break, playing, learning ABC, big break, saying hello, etc. This gives the child a verbal ‘walk through’ of the day. Try talking to your child about the positive things that they will most likely appreciate about starting school. These include making new friends, participating in fun activities such as arts & crafts or P.E. It’s early in the process, so keep going with the social stories.

3

Review – Talk to your child about how they feel about school and take note of any concerns or worries they may have. Try to ease these concerns by providing your child with various scenarios.

For example; ask your child what do you do if you need to use the toilet. You then inform your child that they need to ask one of the grown-ups in the classroom if they can use the toilet. Give them a different scenario, perhaps if the child wants to play with a toy that another child is playing with. Advise your child to wait patiently and perhaps say ‘Would you mind if I played with that toy after you have finished?’ Role play with your child in this way will make them more comfortable and confident in the classroom.

4

Establish routine – More than ever, routine is important. Keep the structure, keep your focus as your children will test the new limits of school-time –mine certainly do!

5

After school plans – What are the plans for your child after school? Do they go to formal or informal childcare or come straight home after school? Will you be collecting your child from school or will a family member, friend or babysitter be collecting them? Some children go to after-school care on certain days only and come straight home other days – ensure your child is aware of these schedules to avoid confusion or distress. Wall charts can help distinguish these days.