Tips to Prepare and Handle this COVID-19 School Year
August 6, 2020 by Amber Lane, LCSW
Hey Parents and Guardians,
Well it’s that time we all been dreading and waiting for THE NEW 2020 SCHOOL YEAR IS FINALLY HERE. This new school year is different because our kids will be beginning school during a world pandemic, and they ended their last school year during a world pandemic. I know a lot of parents and guardians are nervous, scared, and overwhelmed because they are not sure what this COVID-19 school year will bring. As a therapist and mother, I think it’s good to have some tips on how to prepare and handle this COVID-19 school year. This COVID-19 school year will not only be hard for you but it’s going be difficult for your child. The tips I will be providing will help you and your child, so you can be on the same page and have a good understanding on how you will work together during this school year.
Click here for a downloadable PDF tip sheet.
1. I recommend talking to your child about COVID-19. You may have already had this conversation, but it will be very important to have the conversation again. You would want to ensure that your child has a good understanding of COVID-19. When you are having this conversation with your child ensure they know the facts about COVID-19 and the seriousness of this pandemic.
2. Ask your child how he/she is feeling about returning to school. Many children are scared to return to school, but they don’t want to tell their parents. Many children have a lot of questions, but they haven’t had time to have voice their concerns. Lastly, there are children who are not sure what to ask their parents. Please, please, I beg of you take time to listen to your children and allow them to ask you all the questions and concerns they may have. The conversation may look different for your 5-year-old compared to your 12-year-old. Make sure you are having age appropriate conversations especially if you have more than one child.
3. Now preparing for the school year. If your child is participating in virtual schooling discuss what the day will look like. Ask your child what they will need. Your child should have some input because they are the one who will be learning, but you will also need to be held accountable. If you are not very tech savvy, I recommend asking a friend or family member for a tutorial on the platform that school is utilizing. By now you should know the platform that your child’s school is utilizing. If you are able to have a tutorial of the platform before the school year begin it will help eliminate some stress and overwhelming feelings. If your child is participating in in-person schooling discuss how they will prepare for school in the morning and evenings. If they are required to wear a mask please allow your child to practice wearing the mask before the new school year begin. They should be practicing wearing the mask at home or out in public if you take them out. Talk to your child about social distancing and how they can practice it at school. Discuss and read over the new rules and procedures together with your child. Answer any questions your child may have and if you don’t know the answer ensure your child you will find out.
4. It is very important to have to a ROUTINE AND SCHEDULE. Children thrive off routines and schedules. If you are chaotic then your child will be chaotic. Have a visible calendar, so you and your child can both utilized it. If you have a small child I recommend buying a calendar and placing it somewhere in the home that you and your child will always see. Make it fun buy stickers, markers etc. to hold both of you accountable. If you have an older child I recommend digital calendar apps. My top four digital calendars apps are Google Calendar (apple or android users), Any.do (Android users) Apple Calendar (Apple, IOS, or Mac users) and 24me (IOS and Android). The digital calendar allows you to sync your schedule with your child’s schedule, so you both can be on the same page and have a good understanding of the day or week ahead. This pandemic is causing a lot of stress and not having a routine or schedule shouldn’t be an added problem.
5. If your child start experiencing any anxiety about returning to school. Discuss the anxiety feelings with your child and see where the anxiety is coming from. I recommend developing coping skills with your child. A few examples of coping skills are deep breathing, journaling, meditation, playing video games, puzzles etc. If coping skills are not enough to help control your child’s anxiety then I recommend looking into therapy for your child. Therapy can help your child process their anxiety with different therapeutic interventions that therapist will utilize to manage anxiety.
6. My last tip for preparing for the COVID-19 school year. Be available for your child and keep open communication. This is going be a hard time for you and your child, but you both have to support each other. Remind your child to wash their hands and allow them to keep extra hand sanitizer and extra masks in their backpack. If your child is not feeling well let them stay home and monitor their symptoms. I recommend following the CDC guidelines and staying up to date with your child’s school procedures. Remember we will all get through this and stay safe.
Written by: Amber C Lane, LCSW
KBT Counseling and Consulting, PLLC