Gold Coast preps 2020: Coronavirus impact to last for years

Gold Coast preps have faced unprecedented disruption to the start of their school life – and experts believe the experience will have a long-lasting effect.

THE prep students of 2020 will be impacted emotionally and educationally in ways experts cannot yet predict.

However, through these great changes comes greater resilience and a unique learning experience like no other.

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli said this year preps were starting school in the “most amazing of circumstances”.

“Experts will do case studies on the impact on their formative years for generations to come,” he said.

“I reckon it has the prospect of making them more resilient. No one likes to have hurdles in life but when you get over them it can make you stronger, and the preps of 2020 might have an educational resolve forged in fire.

“For many of them it will be a blur, but it will make them stronger and more adaptable to change.

2020 Gold Coast preps: A to G

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MY FIRST YEAR 2020 – Upper Coomera State College. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Mr Crisafulli, who has two teenage daughters, said homeschooling during this difficult period had “tested everybody”.

“On day one, I was at work in the office, my wife rang me to say it looks like were heading for two suspensions and a teacher stood down for drinking on the job,” he said.

He said choosing the right school would make a difference when faced with such an unprecedented event.

“The school you choose for your child will impact their relationships for years to come and define what becomes their interests and shape their career,” he said.

Psychologist Dr Jeff Bailey from The Domain Clinic at Currumbin has specialised in child psychology for more than four decades said it was important for children to form social networks before school began.

“This includes meeting the new teacher and principal, becoming familiar with the physical layout and walking around and seeing where the toilets and bubbler are,” he said.

“Get to know at least one or two other kids and have a play date and find other kids from your kindy.

“Going to prep is huge with big kids walking around, it can be quite frightening but kindy is good to transition them.”

My First Year 2020: Schools H to O

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Broadwater MP David Crisafulli has two teenage girls who have been learning from home during COVID-19. Picture: PETER CARRUTHERS

He said separation anxiety was one of the major issues when starting school.

“Kids feel really anxious not having their mother close by which can be bilateral where mothers are crying and creating the anxiety in the kids,” he said.

“Parents have to be positive and emotionally contained and not let their kids see them upset.”

He said 6 to 8 per cent of kids had anxiety related to school which was more apparent in those with a disability.

“Challenges depend on whether they are well socialised or have some sort of disability that may be affecting that,” he said.

“Kids on the spectrum, ADHD, and behaviour disorders – which is still a fairly big population of kids – need special consideration.

My First Year 2020: Schools P to W

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The prep students of 2020 will be impacted emotionally and educationally in ways experts cannot yet predict.

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Stewart Brooker from Coomera waived off his son Brendan Brooker, 5, on his first day of prep at Coomera State School and said his schooling experience had been “awesome”.

The stay at home dad, who is caring for three-year-old Mason while homeschooling Brendan, said the support from the school had been well organised and professional and he was looking forward to going back to school.

“Me and Mason had trouble adjusting more as we missed our third amigo when he first started prep,” he said.

“Talk lots to your kid now so doesn't seem like a big deal by the time the first day comes.

“We even took Brendan for walks past the school so he knew what it looked like and could see the fun new play equipment.

Mum of three Ebony Foley from Pacific Pines has daughter Emelia, 6, in prep at

Highland Reserve State School where she also teaches.

Mrs Foley said it was important to prepare children for the transition to school.

“Orientation day, open classroom day, prep interview – we prepared Emelia with lots of at home talking about what to expect,” she said.

“We practised opening her own lunch box ‘eating’ and packing it away by herself too. We let her wear her uniform early to build excitement.

“Transitioning back could be difficult, we’ve been talking about her friends and teacher and what games they might play together,” she said.