For some children, the first few weeks back in the classroom may have felt a little daunting. The past academic year meant that many children spent long periods of time at home, and this may have made returning to the classroom feel like a bigger step than usual. Some parents may be unsure how best to help their children navigate these feelings.
In-house education team at the tutoring company, GoStudent, share their top tips and tricks ahead of returning to school after the autumn break.
Create an evening routine
One of the best ways to ease feelings of uncertainty is to create a routine that feels habitual and familiar. Set a bedtime and work hard to keep to it. As you approach that bedtime, do activities with your child that promote feelings of calm, such as reading together or listening to music. As part of this wind down routine, make it a habit to talk through what you have done that day, and what you plan to do the next day. This allows you to identify any worries that your child might have, and gives you space to discuss them, helping to settle their thoughts.
Maintain a positive attitude
It is important to remember that children are incredibly astute, and will sense if you are feeling anxious or concerned. Try to maintain a positive attitude when discussing school with, or within earshot of, them. Enthusiasm is key; and will go a long way towards helping you both to feel more comfortable. Try to make the days after a break from school feel extra special by getting excited together about each library book read or project that has been completed. Perhaps you could even enjoy small rewards together, to mark these exciting school-related milestones.
Get academic help if needed
For some children, a big reason for back-to-school anxiety can be the schoolwork itself. If you are concerned that your child might be struggling in class, take time to talk to them about how they are feeling, where they are struggling and what they think they might need help with. By reassuring them that support is available, and that it is normal to struggle sometimes, the classroom can feel like a far less scary place.
It might be that you can offer them support at home, or that you can speak to their teacher about offering a little extra guidance. Alternatively, there are numerous resources available to help, including 1:1 tutoring services like GoStudent, that can tackle specific worries head on, as well as online games, videos, and quizzes, that might present the subject they are struggling with in a different way, making it easier to comprehend.
Focus on school friends by organising playdates or meetups
After so much time away from school, being in a busy classroom may still feel a little daunting for your child. A great way to overcome this is to arrange playdates with smaller groups of friends. A short trip to the park, or inviting someone over to play at home, in a familiar space, allows your child the opportunity to bond or reconnect with them on their terms, bolstering their confidence on and off the playground.
For more information, visit: www.gostudent.org/en