The start of the 2022 school year is approaching (albeit a bit later than expected for some children and young people). With the start to school, it is likely that many family routines have had to change, and you may have learnt things about your children, yourself as a parent and how to be more flexible with these changes!
For the majority of families, it is now time to prepare as your child heads back to school. Not only do we need to physically prepare for this transition, but we also need to prepare psychologically. The following tips to are offered to make this transition smoother:
- Promote positive conversations. Let your child know that school staff are looking forward to seeing them. If they feel nervous or worried, help them understand this is a normal reaction, and that you and their teachers are there to support them.
- Remind your child that everyone at school is working hard to make sure that everyone is safe and that anyone who is unwell will stay home.
- Begin to adjust sleep routines to ensure adequate sleep.
- Help your child to prepare school equipment, uniforms and plan lunches ahead of time.
- If your young person will be doing home learning, help them to physically prepare their learning space at home and begin to discuss expectations about how and when they will organise and structure their learning.
- Look at the school website, Facebook page and newsletters to learn about new procedures that may have been introduced such as changes to parents’ access to the school grounds, drop off and pick up points as well as new rules such as wearing face masks or hygiene rules.
- Allow more time than usual on the first morning back to calmly get ready. Take your child to school if that will help build a greater sense of security. Alternatively, encourage your child to meet up with a friend before school and travel in together.
- Routines help provide certainty and increase feelings of security, so it will help to re-establish routines and plan for the return. After-school routines to review the day’s learning and complete homework tasks will also be important.
- Provide opportunities for your child to play and relax at the end of the day. Returning to school can be a big deal especially after an extended holiday.
- Remember your school is there to help – contact them with any concerns or issues you might have.
Further Assistance and Support
Sometimes, parents may need additional assistance to support children and young people with the transition back to school. Discussing your concerns with your child’s teacher initially may provide some further insight. Additional supports may also be available within the school to assist such as via the school’s Guidance Officer. Alternatively, you can discuss your concerns regarding your child’s anxiety with your GP, who can assist you with a referral to a Psychologist to help learn strategies to manage anxiety, develop coping strategies and helpful thinking skills.
Our team at Minding Family Townsville would be happy to provide some further parenting strategies for yourself or individual support to your child or young person to improve their confidence and change the way they think about situations such as the transition back to school.
Please contact us on 47 238 221 to discuss pathways for referral.