Some Indian kids have already resumed school but most students in bigger cities are still not attending physical classes. Now high school students will be going back to school after about ten months at home. This is unprecedented. While many kids are happy to be going back to school; meeting friends and getting back to regular activities after so long, there are apprehensions as well. Here are some tips for kids who will start school after many months at home – as well as for their parents.
Right now, a lot of kids are staying up late, getting up just in time to log in to online class and then maybe going back to sleep. The regular routine of getting to bed on time and waking up to get dressed and off to school has gone for a toss over the long months of the lockdown. It is important to get back to the usual routine --- getting to bed, waking up, getting to school on time, fitting in homework and other activities. Check if school uniforms still fit – many kids have put on weight with all the inactivity and kids outgrow clothes and shoes very fast anyway. Try doing all this a few days before school is set to resume so that its not to difficult to suddenly settle into the routine on the day the child returns to school.
Kids still need to careful to avoid infection. The use of masks and sanitisers; regular hand washing are still very important. Many schools are giving kids the option to attend physical classes or virtual (online classes). As such fewer kids may be attending school and it may still be possible to maintain social distance in schools and school buses. If so, kids should try and maintain physical distance rather than sitting close to friends in school and so on. Encourage kids to share their apprehensions or stresses and try to sort them out together. Read up about personal risk factors, dos and don’ts. Tell kids about the importance of hand washing, avoiding crowds, drinking water only from their own water bottles etc. Make sure that kids follow school and state guidelines for going back to school.
It has been a surreal time for school kids – the 2020-21 academic school year was largely a washout and some kids have literally forgotten what that daily routine was. There will be a period of significant readjustment for kids; they may be dealing with their own doubts and anxieties. Parents would do well not to push and prod children too much about their school performance, rank in class and so on. Now is the time to focus on wellbeing and not as much on academic performance. Ensure that the child is eating a healthy diet and watch out for any symptoms of illness; in which case don’t send the child to school. Try to get the child active and involved in some physical exercise to improve physical health and all round wellbeing.
Keep a close eye on your kid(s) and take note of any unusual or odd behaviour. Make sure you keep communicating with your child without appearing to pry or meddle. Try to have at least one meal together as a family and keep things non stressful with freewheeling conversations that kids can participate in naturally. Maybe go for a walk together --- this ensures that parent and child both are getting some exercise. It is also a great time for casual, enjoyable conversations offering insight into the child’s life and feelings. Never dismiss or belittle concerns that kids may have and make sure that they have information and confidence they need to resume ‘regular’ life now after all the extended COVID lockdowns.
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