How to deal with back-to-school anxiety post COVID-19?

This year getting back to school is nothing like the usual shopping for school supplies and new clothes.   Parents, children, teachers and school superintendents have all been stressed and planning meticulously, to ensure that children get back to school as safely as possible. 

How can you as a parent prepare your kids to get back to school after an extended time off school?

Children are likely to have mixed feelings regarding school openings.  Most children have by now adapted to a different lifestyle, spending more screen time and staying indoors without much peer interaction. 

No matter, where you live, school will be different this year.

HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION

1.  Encourage your children to open up about their feelings of returning back to school.  Prepare them for the possible changes this year.  Tell them they are most likely to be seated in smaller classrooms with desks kept wide apart.  They will be asked to keep their distance from their friends and peers.   Common pay areas may be off limits at least for the better part of this school year.
2. Most important, explain to them the ‘why’s” of all things they need to do differently.
3. Be a good listener.  Look for verbal and non-verbal cues of pending anxiety.  If you had a family member who suffered from COVID-19, explain to them about the disease in a way that they can understand.  Validate and acknowledge any fear or anxiety that your child may have, like any new activity, starting school can be tough but will soon be fun and excitement.
4. If you have lost a family member to COVID you may want to have your children talk to a therapist who will be adequately able to examine their mental preparedness for school.

TEACH GOOD HYGIENE HABITS

Teach your kids proper hand hygiene and re-enforce the importance of washing hands frequently.  Practice doing it at home.  Encourage them to sing the alphabet song from beginning to end to help them understand the required time to spend on handwashing. 

Teach them to wash hands adequately after using the bathrooms

Pack a hand sanitizer in their backpacks and encourage to use it after touching the common surfaces

Teach them ‘the sleeve sneeze’ or the ‘collar sneeze’.

GET THE ROUTINE BACK

Get to the back-to-school routine slowly and carefully.   Begin the school routine at least a couple weeks before the school actually starts.

 At the same time, stick to the positive family habits you may have formed during the lockdown. 

As you transition to back-to-school routine, begin cutting back on the screen time while encouraging reading, quiet prayer or meditation or playing quiet games an hour before bedtime to enable early bed time.

VISIT THE DOCTORS OFFICE

It is always a best practice to visit your pediatrician for an annual checkup before school starts.  Be UpToDate on immunizations.  Flu vaccines are highly recommended.  And make sure not to send your children to school if they exhibit any of the ‘cold like’ symptoms.

EASE THE FACE MASK ANXIETY

Make sure that you buy the appropriate size masks for your children.  Encourage them to wear them for a few minutes inside the house to get into the habit and relieve any anxiety.

Encourage Face mask hygiene

Teach them not to touch their mask and then rub their eyes

Keep a spare facemask in their back packs and encourage them to change the mask if it gets wet or soiled

Give them a fresh clean mask each day and tell them why it is not right to exchange face masks even between siblings or ‘best friends’

What can you do if your child is scared or anxious about wearing the mask?

Make the face mask a ‘fun experience’.  Put a face mask over their favorite doll or a stuffed animal and talk about how ‘cool’ it looks

If you are making your own masks at home, encourage them to choose the style and the colour.  Make it more personalized and fun.  Having their favorite cartoon or book character on the mask can make it more attractive for the kids.

Set a good example for your kids by wearing a mask while going out.

Create a ‘fun game’ to play at home by putting the mask on like a superman or a super hero and back it up with positive reinforcement like small treats for every successful attempt

Praise child for a job well done

Teach them the right way of wearing a mask

Teach them to place the masks securely over the nose and the mouth and stretch it from ear to ear.   Encourage hand washing before and after wearing a face mask

Get the right mask for your child

Investing in a good mask will go a long way in ensuring their good health.  Homemade or purchased cloth face masks are fine as long as they fit well.   

Use buttons to make the mask feel more comfortable and to avoid hurting their ears.  These buttons can be attached to a headband so you can loop the elastic around the buttons rather than your child’s ears.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

CDC has identified severe learning loss, and the need for in-person instruction for students with increased behavioral needs.  Remote learning for kids with disabilities, developmental delays, or other cognitive disabilities; especially those that are  deaf, hard of hearing, have low vision, are blind, or have other learning disorders (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) and other physical and mental disabilities have had significant difficulties find it hard to cope with online education

Seek the counsel of your pediatrician who can make proper assessments to determine your child’s preparedness to get back to school and the precautions that may be necessary.  All to make sure your child is in good overall health. 

It is recommended that children who are at high risk or are immune compromised wear the N-95 masks as much as possible.

If your child uses hearing aids, choose a mask with straps in the back rather than an ear loop mask.

Custom made masks with transparent material across the mouth may be a good choice if your child relies on lip reading to communicate.  Practice wearing them and communicating with them at home to help them get ready for school.

KNOW WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME

Every school will issue their own directives as to safe practices.  However, it is good to keep yourself educated on the basics.  Keep your child at home if any one at home is suffering from these symptoms

Know the symptoms of COVID-19

• Fever (at least 100.4°F)
• Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

In summary, returning to school post lockdown will be a big step for most children and it may be a stressful time for the entire family.   Your child may struggle or experience difficulties with the ‘new normal’ routines.  Adjustment takes time.

But by taking the time to plan ahead, maintaining some consistency in their routine, showing genuine love and concern and keeping an open dialogue, will help them gradually cope with their uncertainties and fears.