This Fall, students going back to school will have feelings of relief, excitement, and some feelings of “normalcy”, but for others, going back to school will be a time of confusion, anxiety, and worry. Jennifer Louie, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute notes “there is the added fear that other people are not as safe as we thought they were.” As Back-to-School quickly approaches and stores are being stocked with school supplies, kids are asking themselves: Are we sure it is safe to go back? Will I be safe? What if this happens all over again?
With more programs and schools opening for in-person learning, this means more children will be away from home again after a long break. It can be complicated as a parent with your own worries and anxieties on top of managing self-care and being a parent! So, what can you do or say to reassure your child that they are safe? Between reminding them to consistently wash their hands, wear their masks, and keep hand sanitizer on them and trying to manage and decrease separation anxiety, in today’s blog, we will be exploring some helpful tips and tricks to help your student ease their unique challenges of going back to school during unprecedented and ever-changing times.
Teaching and modeling positive preventive measures, and talking to your children about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety. Remember, children look to you for guidance – be their role model! They will be seeking you out on how to handle and react during this stressful time. Acknowledging their level of concern, without panicking, is appropriate and can result in taking the necessary actions that reduces the risk of behavioral or emotional problems this back-to-school year.
Cynthia Sanchez specializes in working with children, tweens, and teens by creating a fun and creative space to express their unique individual identities. She also specializes in play therapy, anxiety, depression, and trauma therapy. Book an appointment with Cynthia today!
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Miller, C. (2020, September 4). Back-to-school anxiety during covid. Child Mind Institute.