With school returning, you may be breathing a huge sigh of relief or worried about how this year will pan out, given the events of COVID in 2020 and the unpredictable changes that occurred.
Wherever you’re at, it’s important to acknowledge your feelings (they’re all ok). Tune into them and recognise that they may be heightened due to ongoing uncertainty about how 2021 will progress.
First, congratulate yourself on getting through to the start of 2021. You’ve had a pretty big storm to get through during the majority of 2020!
Your child will be returning to a once well-established routine. It will look different to Term 4 2020, with most schools relaxing some of the previous restrictions in place. These changes, like any, may take a bit of time to adjust to, for you, your child and the rest of the family.
Whether your child loves school and can’t wait to start back, or if they are feeling worried or unsure, we have four tips that may be useful for you to keep in mind.
4 tips to get ready for school
1. Encourage your child to share how they’re feeling with you, their friends, teachers and school staff – remember there are no right or wrong feelings.
2. Start to implement old routines (if they have changed over the last few weeks or months) – get up at the same time as you would when leaving home for school and go to bed at the same time each night.
3. If your child has started to feel worried, sad or anxious, help them practice self-care and diffuse the situation – go for a walk outside with a family member, friend or dog (if you have one) and help your child do things that usually make them happy.
4. If you are finding it difficult to manage your child’s worries or feelings, reach out for some specialised support and contact the school wellbeing team or a trusted professional at The Edge.
Remember, the changes throughout 2020 may have returning to school in 2021 feeling different. Like all things in life, adjustment to change takes time and patience.
You’ve got this!
Note: This post was originally published in June 2020 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness on the 26 January 2021.
