Children all over the UK have returned to school recently, some very happily but many others have struggled. We are all unique as are our experiences of the same event, and our feelings, as evidenced in the recent survey reported on by the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/nfpahaz8or/newsround-survey
Here are some top tips for children who are struggling since returning to school:
- Re-evaluate expectations
- Neither you, your teacher, nor your child should expect them to just return to ‘normal’. They have had months of learning from home, with different expectations and rules – allow them to adapt gradually to the new situation.
- Discuss feelings
- Allow your child/children safe space and time to talk about their feelings, let them know theses are normal and natural. Help them to identify them. Then come up together with strategies to deal with any difficult emotions they may be experiencing – they and you know your child best and what will work for them. Obviously I am a great advocate of yoga and the huge benefits this brings have been widely documented, though you may also want to try breathing, doing something creative or whatever works for them.
- Give them choices
- Just think about the freedoms working from home allows. Your child has been experiencing these freedoms for some time and now all of a sudden, all these freedoms have been taken away as they return to school, they can’t choose what to wear and even have to ask to go to the toilet. They have had lots of choices curtailed so try as much as possible to allow them to exercise some control through their choices (where appropriate).
- Have fun!
- By which I mean smile, play and laugh with your child. Again, you know your child best so maybe let them choose an activity and spend time having fun together. This will be one of the best stress-busters out there.
Get yourself signed up to my newsletters which will be giving away free taster guided meditations for kids and watch this space for downloadable feelings sheets for kids coming soon.
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