5 minute read
Life after lockdown: Getting ready for face to face learning tips for students and parents
By: Rajni Ghai Malhotra
As many states of Australia and indeed many other parts of the world come out of lockdowns, schools are once again preparing to resume face-to-face learning. Children have been learning remotely for weeks, months even longer than a year (in some parts of Australia, and the world). It is natural that children, parents and carers will have mixed feelings about returning to face-to-face learning. They could be experiencing a range of emotions from happiness and eagerness to apprehension and anxiety about returning to the old routine after having been at home for so long. That leads us to think – how can we help?
Karen Mahar, Assistant Principal Deputy Head junior school shares tips for students and parents/carers to navigate this transition as they prepare for returning to face to face learning. Her message is clear – be organised, be safe and most importantly, be patient and kind towards yourself and others.
Tips for students Get Ready
• Try on your school uniform and school shoes. You may have had a growth spurt and it may not fit! • Get organised and pack your bag the day before school starts. • Remember to pack your mask if it is your school’s requirement.
Be safe
• Wear mask when advised. • Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser during the day and before eating. • Stay home if you are unwell.
Feelings
• Its ok to have different feelings when coming back to school. You may feel worried, nervous, angry or happy or any feeling in between. • Talking to friends and family can be helpful. You could even talk to your teacher or someone at school if you want to.
Be Kind
• Be kind to your classmates. Invite them to play games with you. • Be patient. It’s been a while since we have all been together. If you feel a bit annoyed or frustrated while playing or learning, try taking some deep breaths, walking away to another area or talking about it with your teacher.
Sleep
• Make sure you go to bed on time! Sleep helps us concentrate, learn and enjoy the day at school. Put your devices in another room, so your sleep is undisturbed. • You might notice you are more tired than usual. That’s ok, after a while you will get back into your normal school routine.
Listen and support
• Talk to your child about how they are feeling. • Listen to them and reassure them that its normal to feel anxious scared, nervous, overwhelmed about going back to school. Its also normal to feel excited at the same time as feeling stressed or scared about the changes and lifting of restrictions. • Talk to your children about the positives of the upcoming changes, including what they like to do at school that they haven’t been able to do at home during remote learning.
Suggestions for parents and cares
Some children may feel anxious, scared, reluctant, excited or just overwhelmed. Their feelings may vary depending on their age and stage of development and family situation. How children feel about returning to school may vary between children in the same family and it may also vary day to day for a particular child. Its important for you as a parent or carer, to acknowledge the changes and talk with your children about returning to school.
Create a plan
Make a plan for the first day and first week of school. Planning can help reduce stress and anxiety by adding structure and routine to new, changed or uncertain situations.
• Allow time for play, relaxation and homework, as well as some tasks around the home which are suitable for your child’s age and
stage of development. • Organise play dates with school friends (while adhering to the restrictions of your state or territory) to help your children feel connected with the school community outside the classroom. • Get back into a routine, including dinner, bath and bed times. • Stay calm and allow time for your children to transition and settle back into school. • Support kids to get plenty of rest, particularly in the first week or two after returning to school, as they will be adjusting to a much busier schedule than what they might have recently been used to. • Make positive statements to your children about what they have been doing well, and how they are coping with the challenges and expectations placed on them.
Give it time
It’s important to be aware that any transition takes time and every child will be different. Some will bounce back into old routines immediately while others might take longer to adjust. Be patient.
Get help if needed
Know who to contact if you need help. It could be the school teachers or even your GP. You could consider talking with friends, family and support groups.
Karen Mahar is Assistant Principal, Deputy Head of Junior School at Radford College Canberra. In more than a decade that she has been at Radford, Karen has helped shape young minds by inspiring excellence. She is passionate about wellbeing of students and strives to create an environment that promotes positive education.
By: Rajni Ghai Malhotra
2October 2021 Canberra On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the High Commission of India organised a prayer meeting by paying floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Glebe Park in adherence with COVI-19 restrictions prevailing in the ACT. Later in the day, the High Commission organised an online webinar talk by Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna and Prof. Satendra Nandan on “Relevance of Gandhi in the modern times”. The High Commissioner of India to Australia HE Mr Manpreet Vohra shared his thoughts on the topic while welcoming the speakers and viewers who were present virtually to mark this occasion.
