Practical preparations
Most people have fallen out of routine during lockdown. Work with your child to plan how to put this back in place.
- Sleep- ensuring they are getting their 10 hours of sleep every night, by returning to a set time for going to bed and getting up.
- Eating- Most people have been snacking like crazy. To fit to their school day routine, start having regular eating times again. Breakfast, one mid-morning snack, lunch, a snack at the time they usually finish school, dinner. Try and make the snacks as healthy as you can.
- Hygiene- Regular washing, including teeth brushing, should not have been affected by lockdown, but many children will try to avoid it if they can. Getting this back into the routine and ensuring they have a shower/ bath on the evening of Sunday 7th/ morning of Monday 8th, so they are fresh and clean for back to school.
- Exercise- At school the children have time in the playground, PE lessons and they also walk up and down many stairs. To get their fitness up, do something physical everyday. This could be going for a walk, playing a game in the garden/ park, playing games or joining in videos such as Just Dance or following an exercise video by someone, such as Joe Wicks.
Make sure your child's school uniform (including PE kit) fits, is washed and ironed. Do their school shoes and PE trainers still fit?
Children might have different feelings about returning to school. Some might be anxious for a range of reasons, while others may be excited.
Some children may be feeling anxious about catching up on school work or worried that they’ve fallen behind during the pandemic. NSPCC advice
Start talking
Your child might have worries about the virus, restrictions in place or their education and school. You can explore these and help them to think of ways to manage them using our Time for Us pack or the resources on the Family Links website.
Coping strategies
You use when feeling stressed such as speaking with friends or family, doing regular exercise or using breathing techniques. If you feel comfortable, you could share your own worries and feelings about the current situation and ways you are managing these feelings.
Make yourself available as much as possible
Children may want to come and “debrief” but maybe not when you expect. Create space for talking in different ways, such as going on a walk together or baking together – there may be less pressure in these circumstances than when sitting face-to-face.
Look at the positives
It might be helpful to talk with your child about the things they have enjoyed during the pandemic and what they may be looking forward to, like their favourite shop reopening, seeing friends in the park or getting ice cream from their favourite café.
mentalhealth.org.uk/tips-parents-carers-return-to-school
The following websites have more tips and advice-
youngminds.org.uk/blog/supporting-a-child-returning-to-school-after-lockdown/
camhsnorthderbyshire.nhs.uk/returning-to-school-after-lockdown
