Strategies for Returning to School – Alert Level 2

Provided by South Waikato CAMHS Service. Adapted from AnxietyCanada.com May 2020.

The Waikato region is moving to Level 2 shortly and this means going back to school. This will be easier for some kids and teenagers than others. It may also be quite a different experience for some compared to 2020. Life has been very different when living in our bubbles and so here are some ideas and tips to help kids and teenagers get back to their key routine and schedule of attending school.
Help Your Child Name Their Fears
Often times our children express their anxiety in general terms (“I don’t want to go back. I like doing school at home better!”) Help them name in specific terms what they want to avoid in going back to school. Is it fear of being behind academically? Facing certain peers, again? Or teachers? Or are they afraid of getting sick from COVID? What do they believe might happen returning to school?
Listen and Acknowledge how Your Child is Feeling
Acknowledge your child’s feelings. Let them know that it is normal and common to feel this way and that lots of other people are also having similar feelings. Reassure your child that they are loved, cared for and safe (in whatever realistic or truthful way they are). Set up a regular time and place to talk. Some children feel most comfortable in a private space with your undivided attention (such as right before bed, or during mealtime). Teens often welcome some sort of distraction to cut the intensity of their worries and feelings (such as driving in the car, or taking a walk).
Talk and Be Prepared to Answer Questions
Ask your child/teen what they think and know and be proactive in talking about the facts regarding COVID-19 and the Delta variant and what returning to school means. Children ask questions as this helps them to make sense of the situation. Make sure you have read about the FACTS around risks of COVID-19 and children and young people. Also make sure you are aware of what the conditions are at your child’s early childcare or school/kura. Explain the FACTS in a simple way that is appropriate for their age, understanding and situation. Let them know that you are available if they have any questions or want to talk more.
Focus on the Positive Aspects of Returning to School
Encourage your child to re-direct attention away from the worries, and towards the positives. Ask your child, “What are three things that you are most excited about on your first day back of school?” Most kids can think of something good, even if it’s just eating a special snack or going home at the end of the day. Chances are that the fun aspects are simply getting overlooked by repetitive worries.
Be Calm Yourself
Children and teenagers look to the important adults around them to determine how worried they should be. Although this can be very difficult it’s important that you present and model a sense of calm and purpose. It can be anxiety-provoking for parents/caregivers to hand over care and responsibility to teachers and school staff. The more confident and calm you can demonstrate, the more your child will understand they don’t need to be afraid.
It is important that you don’t reward your child’s protests, crying, or tantrums by allowing him or her to avoid going to school. Instead, in a calm tone, say: “I can see that going to school is making you scared, but you still have to go. Tell me what you are worried about, so we can talk about it.” Chances are, your child is anxious about something that requires a little problem-solving, role-playing, planning, and/or involvement from the teacher.
Problem-Solve and Plan
Children often seek reassurance that bad things won’t happen in order to reduce their worry. Do not assure them with “Don’t worry!” or “Everything will be fine!” Instead, encourage your child to think of ways to solve his or her problem. For example, “If (the worst) happens, what could you do?” or “Let’s think of some ways you could handle that situation.” This gives you the opportunity to coach your child on how to cope with (and interpret) both real and imagined scary situations. You will also be giving your child the tools he or she needs to cope with an unexpected situation that might arise.
Develop a Daily Routine and Schedule
Everybody’s routine will have changed to some degree when at Level 4 and 3 and so it is important to think about what the routines and systems were prior to the Lockdown and put those back in. It benefits everyone to have established routines with a defined schedule and structure. This creates a sense of security and consistency. Even now you can start your child on a school-day routine – waking up, eating, and going to bed at regular times. Explain that everyone in the family needs to adjust to the new schedule, so he or she doesn’t feel alone with these changes.
Sleep – This is the Big One!
Sleep is so very important – it promotes alertness, memory and performance. Children who get enough sleep are more likely to function better during the day and be less likely to have behavioural problems, poor concentration and memory problems, and be less irritable.
Make bedtime the same time every night with a consistent bedtime routine (regardless of age) and make bedtime a positive and relaxing experience without screens. Have some favourite relaxing, non-stimulating activities to do when your child is in bed.
Technology Use/Screen Time
We know that screen time use has increased during Alert Levels 4 and 3, which is completely understandable given we were all in a very strange situation. For many families and whānau it was getting a balance between have a stressed out household or screen time and screen time was the winner – that is OK!
Now as we move to Level 2 it is important to start putting in some changes so that kids and teens can get back to the routine that is helpful for school attendance and healthy sleep cycles. This is going to involve negotiation between parents/caregivers and children and teens. They also need to be part of this plan so that they ‘buy into it’. Think back to how much screen time used to be allowed and work out how to get back to that place. This won’t be an overnight change, you will likely have to do this in a stepwise fashion.
Practical Steps
 Start your child on a school-day routine – waking up, eating, and going to bed at regular times. Explain that everyone in the family needs to adjust to the new schedule, so he or she doesn’t feel alone with these changes.
 For older children who having troubles getting up and out of bed, negotiate with them how they are going to be woken up, what time, and the same for going to bed at night.
 Together help plan school lunches for the first week.
 Create a list of supplies needed together and work to getting these together.
 Plan how your child is going to get to school and what the drop off or entry system is going to be for your school (do this prior to discussing with your child)
 Younger children might like to have a special object that reminds him/her of home or of you.
 Teach and practice coping skills to use when feeling nervous/worried
o Calm breathing
o Positive self-talk and coping cards
o The CARD System (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract)
 Most importantly, praise and reward your child for their brave behaviour as well as for all steps taken to move back to a school routine!
COVID-19 Vaccination All those 12 years and over can now start having the COVID-19 vaccine. When parents or caregivers make their own appointments, they can make appointments for their 12 to 15-year-old children to have the vaccine at the same time. Go to bookmyvaccine.nz to book your vaccine. For up-to-date information about COVID-19 go to the Unite Against COVID-19 website.

Strategies for Returning to School 2021 – South Waikato CAMHS Service. Adapted from AnxietyCanada.com May 2020