It’s that time of year again…back to school! This time of year can bring about a whole lot of different emotions for everyone! Children’s Mental Health Ontario (2021) have some great tips for parents and caregivers to help make the transition a little easier for the 2022 school year (for the full article, see here: https://www.family.cmho.
1. Get into a routine
We talk a lot about routines because it’s so important! Getting into a routine is also a common challenge as kids head back to school. Some older kids may have picked up some unusual sleep routines—staying up all night on their devices and sleeping in late. Working with them to agree on new rules to shut down their devices and get back to a regular sleep schedule could help get them on the right track.
2. Communicate with kids
One of the most powerful ways you can support your child through the process of returning to school is by trying to understand how they are feeling about it. Find the right time to ask them questions to get a sense of what’s on their mind. Listening to what they are experiencing—and not criticizing—gives them an open space to talk about what’s going on or ask questions they have about the school year. For many kids, the more chances they have to be heard, the more likely they will feel comfortable to open up and talk. Let them know whatever they are feeling is ok and assure them that you’re going to get through this together. Also, ask your child how you can work together to make this a positive school year. Ask older kids to consider what the benefits are of returning to school to get them focusing on the positives.
3. Sit in the yuck
There are a lot of concerns around academic preparedness and uncertainty of the school year…on top of ongoing concerns about the pandemic. None of us can say with certainty what the next few months will bring and sometimes the unknown can feel yucky. It’s ok to have conversations with your kids and “sit in the yuck” with them—that means, you are hearing their concerns and validating their feelings without necessarily being able to solve the problem. We don’t need to have all the answers, all the time. For a lot of kids, resilience comes from having just one person in their corner who sees them and understands what they are going through. From there, you can start problem solving together by focusing on what is in your control to change.
4. Pack your bags the night before
There are quite a few things you can do the night before to help the morning rush run a little more smoothly. Can you have backpacks packed, waiting by the door? Can you encourage your child or teen to pick out their clothes and have them ready? Can you prepare lunches the night before? These are common tips to help get ready for school, but these routine things may be more important than ever this year when there is already so much more to be thinking of.
5. Communicate with the school
If your child is managing mental health issues, it is helpful to have the lines of communication open with the school. You don’t need to wait for an issue to escalate with your child before you reach out to them. Staying connected with the school gives you an opportunity to work together as a team and ensure kids feel heard and assured that you can get through this.
6. Supporting pre-schoolers
For little ones who are going to school for the first time, it’s a really big change! You can work on a goodbye routine that is practiced at bedtime and then used at school drop off time—it will help them understand that just as you are there when they wake, you will be there when school is done. Try to make sure you are always on time to pick your little one up. Also, consider letting them bring a transitional object—something that will bring them comfort and help them feel connected to home while they are in class.
Give kids time to adjust
Different kids will be feeling different things—excitement, nervousness, uncertainty—about the return to school. It’s important to give them time to transition back…it’s a lot of change! But pay attention to signs that may be a warning of something more serious going on for them. For example, if your child is so stressed that they are not sleeping or eating well, getting persistent headaches or stomach aches, or perhaps they are wanting to stay in bed all day, it can be a sign that they need help.
Some resources for children and youth to support their mental health:
- Guidance counsellors at their school
- The Student Well Being Teams https://www.
princeedwardisland.ca/en/ information/education-and- lifelong-learning/student- well-being-teams - Strongest Families Institute- Call our Social Worker, Mary Jane for a referral
- You can call Mary Jane, our Social Worker at the MFRC for support as well