Education|10 March 2022

How to help your child mentally cope with a return to school

Ways to help your child deal with this change. Like adults, children also find it difficult to manage their mental and emotional health. They too experience stress, anxiety, and depression, but they respond differently. Here are some tips for you to help them.

Understand
their feelings

Children also feel anxious, restless
and nervous. Validate their feelings and share yours as well. Understand the
reason behind their emotions so you can address them directly.

Pros of returning
to school

Remind your child about the fun of
going to school. Share how you’ve enjoyed time with your friends engaging in physical activities. Assure them that school is a place of fun, learning and making new friends.

Be honest about
the current situation

Explain in an age-appropriate manner
that they are keeping themselves and others healthy by following the schools’ safety measures.

Demonstrate healthy
coping mechanisms

A safe home environment allows the child to develop healthy coping mechanisms when dealing with school. Show them how this can be done through journaling, talking to someone and leisure activities.

Beware of burnout

Due to the lack of educational support
during the pandemic, children may feel
pressured by the transition. Do not pressure them further, and let them know that their grades do not define them.

Balance education
and rest

Help them adjust to the new normal by
setting a routine for them to balance rest and education time

Talk to your child

Your child should be comfortable
talking to you without fearing an adverse reaction. Start conversations surrounding mental health issues early so you can address these issues immediately in the future.

Observe mood
changes

Verbal and physical cues are a good
indicator of their feelings. If your child is sad, angry or in an unusual mood for an extended period this could imply that something
is wrong.

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