Is This School? Students Experience Returning to School
Students are beginning to return to school and it’s leaving many students asking “Is this school?” What students experience returning to school is varied, and brings up concerns of safety verses supporting their academics and mental health.
To Go or to Stay?
Families are first faced with a choice of should I send my child back to the school system? This is a family-based decision that is riddle with nuance. When looking for information of safety there is a lack of clarity for what age group is being talked about. A 5-year-old is different than a 10-year-old which is different than a student in middle school or high school. Schools are all taking different levels of protocols. This becomes an area I recommend that each family research. Please also consider the source and who’s voice you trust. Also consider your child. Is she able to focus at home? Does he need teacher support throughout a lesson or can he work independently? Is my child moodier and more irritable? That might indicate they are missing not only the structure and routine that school offers but, the social and emotional support it gives.
Schools for many students are not just a place for learning. It is true that it provides purposeful academic support, especially for unique learners such as those with dyslexia or attention challenges. It also is one of the best places for your child to practice social skills. Through these social interactions they are learning emotional attunement and regulation. What does that mean? It means your child is learning to read how others are feeling and how to appropriately respond to others and even how to feel inside themselves.
But It’s Not Like School
If you do decide to send your child back into the classroom it might not be what they expect. Some students are happy to leave home, see other kids and have a teacher in person with them. Yet others are faced with another disappointment in that school is not like school. Prepping your child about what to expect is crucial to their processing and expectations. Many schools do have information about the protocols they have in place. The younger the child the more explicit you should be to help them see, hear, feel and understand what school will be like. Prompting a child with comments such as “when you are in class you will do it this way” or “let’s practice it the school way.” Some children will need help knowing how to consider the positives of their experience. Help them focus on the good things that are happening right now instead of what is not the same. As we all continue to look for relief, we can celebrate what small new beginnings are taking place. Like the buds on plants, we are starting new growth in our world as it is today.
For more support, please contact Michelle about her Parent Clinic. michelle@lifeencounter.com