Psychologist gives grim warning as children to prepare to go back to school

A child psychologist has revealed the serious repercussions children will face if they don’t return to school.

A child psychologist has issued a grim warning saying children must return to school on time to protect their mental health as the current Omicron surge in NSW threatens to delay the first term.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has stood firm on February 1 being the non-negotiable date for children to return to school, a decision slammed by the NSW Teachers Federation.

Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos said the return to school date is “of concern”, with predictions schools will quickly be non-operational due to the rise of Covid-19 cases and close contacts.

But child and adolescent psychologist Clare Rowe said having students back at school is critical for mental health.

A child psychologist has issued a grim warning saying children must return to school on time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

After being in and out of school for the past 18 months, Ms Rowe said children can’t do it any longer and they are “over it”.

“I can’t believe we’re back here after mental health professionals like myself advocated so hard last year to get kids to return to term four,” Ms Rowe told 2GB.

“If we’ve learned anything from last year we know it’s not just the academics, it’s the social aspects, physical aspects and mental aspect.”

Ms Rowe said she has staff working around the clock trying to help children who are suffering after the past two years.

She doesn’t know what their “next step” will be if they can’t return to school next move.

“It’s really concerning,” the psychologist said.

Children have struggled with returning to school, with many being distracted, inattentive, flat and disengaged.

“It is that depressive-like symptoms … withdrawal, lack of enjoyment in normal activities and a lack of relationships with some people retreating to their rooms all day,” Ms Rowe said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has stood firm on February 1 being the non-negotiable date for children to return to school. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“It’s really dangerous behaviour that we’re talking about have been months into years now.”

Ms Rowe has reiterated that the Omicron strain, while more infectious, is milder than the ones before it.

She is urging for schools to be flexible for students as there are predictions of large pockets of absent staff and students.

“I would argue that a student who needs to take a week off a term or two weeks off a term is far better to go the remaining eight weeks,” Ms Rowe said.

“I feel like we’re almost kind of stopping and cancelling all this before we’ve even given it a go.”

Children don’t want to be homeschools anymore, but would rather be out and about with their friends, socialising while learning.

“They want to be back in the classroom,” Ms Rowe said.

“What they’re not gaining in terms of their social development, they’re still in the learning phase, we can’t treat them like little adults.

“Development of learning starts yes as a newborn, but continues through the elderly adult for them social skills and if we’re going to restrict the use of that, we can’t do that without repercussions later on.”