Messages around safety, compliance and logistics are circulating wildly this back-to-school season. But what are educational systems doing to holistically set families up for success, taking children's mental and emotional health into consideration?
Going to school in 2020 and 2021 has been an exercise in patience, hygiene, and flexibility – among many things. Whether kids have been in remote learning classes, socially distanced classrooms and childcare spaces, or some combination of the above, it has never been more challenging to establish a reliable routine around learning and daily life. For this reason, heading back to school this Fall comes with increased risks around separation anxiety, fear, depression, and distractibility. Parents can do some core things to set their children up for success as we move toward a new school year. First and foremost, adults must be on the lookout for mental health disturbances or symptoms that a child is not adapting comfortably to change.
Spotting Separation Anxiety in Children
As kids are pulled from the comforts of their homes, parents, educators, and mental health practitioners alike should all be on the lookout for amplified separation anxiety. The need to ease into the school year with gentleness and intention especially applies to young children. Children are entirely dependent upon their parents and guardians at a young age and need special attention during big transitions to feel safe and protected. The past year and a half of pandemic living, where parents and kids have likely spent more time than usual under the same roof, is likely to lead to a heightened risk for separation anxiety in children. All of this at-home time means that, whether or not they intended to, families have reinforced daily routines and built a sense of repeatability that young children depend upon. Whether at school, infant care, or sports practice, separation anxiety is something most children will experience at some point in their early development. When separation anxiety happens, it's loud, attention-grabbing, and disruptive. Tantrums, clinginess, even sleeplessness, and stomach aches are signs a child is experiencing fear of separation. School-aged children can also display separation anxiety symptoms, perhaps by performing poorly at school, throwing a fit when it's time to leave the house or the car, or becoming irrationally afraid of things they used to enjoy.
How to Identify General Anxiety and Depression in Young Children
The pandemic has had a significant psychological effect and has taken a mental health toll on people of all ages. Children who have weathered this period are at an increased risk for depression and generalized anxiety. Because of mask-wearing habits and frequent hand washing, kids might also have a heightened sense of hygiene and personal space that will make it difficult to relax, play, and engage in the healthy activities that make school fun and exciting.
It is relatively standard for kids to experience anxiety when they are coping with changes in their environment. Additional anxiety triggers frequently include disrupting their schedule or exposure to health factors like illness and injury. Now more than ever, these triggers are very present as the world prepares for a post-pandemic return to work, school, and life as we used to know it (sort of). For children and their families, schedules, home environments, and daily habits are shifting.
Not only will kids face the anxiety of being outside their habitual spaces and routines – there is an additional layer that COVID has directly caused. Even children who loved school or were eager students in the days before COVID may dread school due to heightened paranoia around their health and safety. Not every young child is in the loop about the details of the pandemic; however, many are sure to feel a fear of germs, worries around sharing close quarters with others, feelings of helplessness, and possible hypochondria.
Academic and Performance Risks
In school-aged children, mental health disturbances often show up in the classroom as disinterest, lack of engagement, behavioral issues, or sudden academic performance changes. There could be many contributing factors when it comes to academic declines – however, getting ahead of potential problems and building positive motivational strategies around school can help. Children who have a history of acting out, seeking excess attention, or ignoring classroom lessons will need extra support from their teachers and their families to present a shared perspective on the value of school.
Easing Mental Health Upsets During Back-To-School Season
Parents, family members, and communities can do a lot to help ease kids' fear and anxiety around returning to school. Families will do a service to young children by presenting a consistent point of view that highlights positive associations with school. Talking about school as a comfortable, special place will demonstrate to kids that they have a lot to look forward to in the school year.
As with all fear and anxiety issues, welcoming questions and permitting dialogue – even when you don't have all the answers – is essential. Parents will do well to model firmness and strength in dealing with uncertainty. If adults and authority figures are confused or fearful, children are likely to pick up on these feelings and internalize them.
Easing out of summer's long, lazy days and carving out dedicated space for a more scheduled daily routine will help build children's tolerance around the types of structured activities they can expect in a school day. A stable, predictable schedule is highly beneficial for kids – and if they're learning how to participate in structured activities while at home, they're more likely to feel safe and relaxed under the supervision of teachers and educational staff.
When it comes to opening children up and building trust with more people, parents and family members can be supportive by welcoming new faces and friends into their lives. After so much time alternating between lockdowns, the more kids can safely socialize with people of all ages, the better. On the flip side, it is equally important to make a practice of quiet time to teach young children to downregulate their energy and practice disciplined focus. Giving kids a calm activity – painting, drawing, napping, deep breathing exercises – that will occupy their full attention is key to preparing them for the classroom experience.
At Maryvale, our approach to early education considers a child's entire experience, accounting for their physical and mental health throughout their learning journey.
