Warning Signs to Notice in Your Child During This Strange School Year

This school year will be unlike any other – once again. The epidemic affected all of our school-aged children in some manner, regardless of which path you took last year. After a few weeks of in-person lessons, some experts recommend checking in with your child on a regular basis to see how they are adjusting to being in school electronically.

As your child navigates this unusual year, Amber Kemp-Gerstel, a child psychologist, Juicy Juice ambassador, DIY expert, and host of Disney Family Sundays on Disney+, provides some specific warning signals to look out for.

“It can be difficult to go from the familiarity of home to the unfamiliar surroundings of school,” Kemp-Gerstel explains. “This change is swift for some children. Others may have to wait a few weeks.”

Returning to a school routine after the required flexibility of the previous year might cause a variety of problems in youngsters. “Small problems may include trouble waking up or getting back into the habit of everyday assignments,” Kemp-Gerstel says. Other difficulties may include tearful goodbyes at drop-off, difficulty mingling with new classmates, signs of depression or worry, or not eating lunch at school – all of which may necessitate additional attention from parents and instructors.

“Once we continue to gain a foothold in the market, we’ll certainly see more children struggle as they return to the in-person classroom.” Kids are no longer acclimated to the routine of in-person education after a year or more at home. It’s possible that tasks like being sat all day or raising their hand before being excused to the restroom are out of their comfort zone. As these expectations become more common, both parents and teachers will need to show some grace during the initial weeks of school,” she says.

While a child psychologist may be able to figure out why a child’s conduct is the way it is, parents are the experts when it comes to seeing changes in their child’s behaviour. The difficult aspect will be determining whether there is a true problem that needs to be addressed or whether it is simply usual and anticipated behaviour in school-aged children, such as refusing to do their homework.

“All of these behaviours can occur in children who are typically developing, and they are not cause for alarm.” If parents are still concerned after four weeks of school and are noticing troublesome behaviours, it may be appropriate to seek advice from school personnel such as a teacher, school counsellor, or school psychologist.”

These are the warning signs experts say parent will want to be on the lookout for this year:

• Having trouble sleeping or sleeping excessively

• Being jittery

• Being particularly shy or timid

• Weird behavior/acting out

• Anxiety or depression

• Eating difficulties

Keep in mind that some of them will be expected in a new environment, but if they don’t calm down after four weeks or you suspect there’s more to the matter, use the techniques below to help your kid work through any difficulties.

Be there for your kids

Returning to school after a year of virtual or hybrid education can be daunting for students. Sharing messages in their lunchbox to let them know you are thinking of them might bring some encouragement, confidence, and joy into their school day. You may also be accessible with a snack in the afternoons and nights, ready to listen to what’s going on in their lives or what happened throughout the day. The most important thing is to be present.

Leverage your resources

With so many children returning to school after a year or more of virtual education, you may notice some emotional concerns with your child, such as worry, social difficulties, and attention problems – but it’s unlikely that your child wants to talk to you about it. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact the counsellor or psychologist at your child’s school.

But don’t forget to get assistance for yourself. Seek help from the other parents in your class. Consider starting a discussion room for parents. As parents, we may feel out of the loop when it comes to school’s day-to-day activities and events, so work together to keep informed and connected.

Play goes a long way

Now that the kids are back in school, we’re spending less time together as a family, so make the most of it by scheduling a special time where you can really connect with one another and just play! Young children’s natural language is play. You’ll have meaningful talks with your kids, understand what’s on their minds, and possibly uncover any troubles they’re having if you play with them without the distraction of your phone or other technology. This could be as little as 10 minutes after school before starting homework. Remember that it doesn’t take much time to make a significant change.

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