How parents can prepare students as kids return to classrooms
As thousands of Victorian families begin the staggered return to school next week, parents and kids have been warned that an adjustment to the new normal won’t happen overnight. These tips and tricks will help ease anxiety and stress ahead of the transition.
Education
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The wait is finally over for thousands of Victorian parents preparing to get their kids back to school tomorrow.
But experts have warned the adjustment for both parents and children may not happen overnight.
Monash University educational psychologist Dr Christine Grove said after being asked to adjust to remote learning, families are now being asked to send their kids back to school, often while some children are still at home.
“If parents are confused, children will be too, so it’s important for parents to devise a way to manage the transition,” Dr Grove said.
“I suggest establishing a new routine together and decide things together. Don’t underestimate your children – just tell them things plainly based on the government information.
“If you don’t talk to children about this, they fill in the gaps with their fear and make it up themselves which can be worse.”
Parents should also talk through how children will manage their hygiene and social distancing at school so they are prepared that school will be a bit different than they remember.
“If advice comes directly from their parents, children understand it well,” she said.
“But don’t use emotion in your advice. Just be factual.”
Highett mum Simone Smith, 41, is both excited and tentative about sending her two youngest sons Xavier, 5, and Mitchell, 7, back to school tomorrow.
Their elder brother Toby, 9, will join them in two weeks.
“It’s been a huge upheaval because my husband and I are still working at home, so we’re looking forward to tomorrow but I now think I’ll also miss them,” Mrs Smith said.
“We’ve all been going to bed later so there may be some issues in the morning. It’s not the same as going back to school after Christmas holidays because they haven’t been allowed to see their friends.”
Mrs Smith was confident staff at Highett Primary School would ease the transition and have been working last week to help prepare the students, particularly Xavier.
“He’s busting to get back to school,” she said.
Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy said there was a level of anxiety, mixed with excitement, as schools resumed for preps to Year 3 and Year 11 and 12 students tomorrow.
“We all need to be open to dialogue between home and school about how best we all manage the transition back effectively,” Ms McHardy said.
“We’ve seen some terrific examples of where schools and families have worked together and strengthened their relationships and we’d like this momentum to continue.”
TIPS TO HELP PREPARE FOR RETURN TO SCHOOL
1. Where appropriate, send students back with the small bottles of sanitiser/antibacterial wipes in their pockets or school bags.
2. Reinforce basic hygiene (washing hands) and encourage them to sing happy birthday to get in the routine of washing hands properly at school.
3. We all need to trust each other. Your child’s teacher considers the wellbeing and safety of children as being paramount.
4. Encourage parents to have a conversation with their child before returning to school about physical distancing – the “why” and the “how”.
5. Clear information about practicalities such as refilling drink bottles, if children can order lunches, rules around sharing food, use of the playground/equipment, how lunch breaks will work.
— Source: Parents Victoria
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