Many of us have spent the previous 18 months teaching our children how to avoid the risk of COVID-19 in the comfort of our own homes. Children are now returning to classrooms in a school environment that is unlikely to resemble the one they had left. Little kids will find it hard to adjust to the timings and pre-pandemic routine. It all comes down to parents supporting their kids during this transition.
High schools and colleges are reopening now as the risk of COVID-19 is subsiding. For the time being, we must all continue to take COVID’s safety seriously, but we may be nearing the end of a life-changing experience that has lasted over a year. Teach your kids to wear masks even when they’re tempted to throw them off.
The majority of families are attempting to prepare for the reopening of schools, wondering what challenges they will face and what resources they will require. This is what you do.
10 Tips for Parents for Preparing Young Children
- First and foremost, don’t dismiss anxiety’s emotional manifestations. Allow your child to share their worries about the epidemic, teachers, classmates, friendship problems, or homework loads.
- Make the bed, have breakfast, pack lunch, gather books/supplies, and walk to school with your child as part of your regular routine.
- Set definite bedtimes and wake-up times for your family to ensure that sleep is a top priority. Remember to keep the volume low, the lights turned off, and the gadgets in a different room.
- Encourage your children to get plenty of exercise and spend time outside in nature. With your children, practice breathing and relaxing techniques. Play some soothing music, sit still, and take slow, deep breaths.
- Allow your children to get some space and time away from stimuli like noise, crowds, huge events, and other high-stimulus situations. Make it a point to limit the amount of time spent on cell phones and loud music for teenagers.
- To keep your child’s teacher and staff aware of their condition, share information with them.
- Because children follow your lead and absorb your emotions, be a role model by remaining calm and healthy yourself.
Don’t Expect Everything To Change Overnight
Adjusting to the old routine will take some time. Just like we took months to adjust to working from home then back to the office, children will also take some time.
Were grades affected by the pandemic? It’s possible that they won’t rise all of a sudden. Was there no social life? It may take some time for it to return to normal; in fact, socialization may feel awkward for a while.
Furthermore, no one’s routines appear to be the same as they were previously. The sleep cycles are messed up. Commutes will be required to return. Mealtimes may change. To adjust back to in-person school, practically all routines may need to change. Setting reasonable expectations and anticipating that getting into a new and stable groove will take time is the best thing you and your child can do.
How to make it easy for your kids?
Provide Routine and Structure
Teach them to build a routine now that they need to go back to school. Caregivers can also serve as strong role models in this area. Everyone should get up, dress, eat breakfast, wash their hands, and prepare themselves for the day ahead.
Set a time for homework dinner, and a healthy sleep schedule
Dinner times, weekly activities, and devoted time together with the family are all extremely important now. Routines eliminate ambiguity and provide a youngster the feeling that their days are stable and predictable.
Offer Coping Strategies
This period can be perplexing because school norms around handwashing and social distance may differ from your current domestic habits.
- Assure your child that the situation is being monitored by adults. Encourage your child to concentrate on the things he or she has control over, such as hand washing and social distancing.
- Remind your child that it’s normal to be nervous about starting school again, but that there are tools they can use to cope.
- Encouragement of a positive attitude is beneficial for parents and carers. Inquire about what your child is looking forward to doing at school or who they would like to see.
- As they navigate this odd time, remember to give children time to communicate their concerns and frustrations.
It’s no secret that children will find it hard as they’ve adjusted to working from home and studying from home culture. It might need some pushing, but they’ll soon adjust to the new normal. Schools are fun so it will not take much time. A good week will have them back in the grind.
