On September 6, most schools which follow Cambridge and other international programmes will reopen after a long break which started in June. While most students in public and some private schools are already back to school, the majority who pursue international programmes, as usual, reopen at the end of August or early September. With the new academic year starting, parents and guardians are racing against time to prepare for the school year reopening, looking for school fees, scholastic materials and many more. This academic year promises to be less tumultuous than the previous one with Covid-19 restrictions easing up a bit as numbers continue to relent, with more people getting vaccinated. As the new academic year begins, students will be readjusting to cope with the amount of work they have to cover, having missed a good amount of school time during the past academic year, which was characterised by Covid-19 restrictions. Annette Umuziranenge, a veteran educator, says this period of going back to school is not the usual one, considering that the pandemic is still here and uncertainty still lingers around. As such, both parents and children still have anxiety issues to cope with. “For some, it is actually depression. As we all know, the socio-economic situation is yet to normalise, so some parents are likely to go through difficulties to raise school fees and other needs after their sources of income were affected, “Joining a new class for a child can be a cause for anxiety as they brace themselves for the challenge ahead. All these issues play into how the academic year begins,” Umuziranenge says. Below are some tips to help both parents and children cope with the back to school pressure. Strict routines With the long holiday, there are high chances that routines of children and parents have been interrupted even as most parents continue to work from, which will make it difficult for the young ones and adults to adjust quickly to the strict routine. You might need to reintroduce tough rules that emphasise meal times, bedtime and waking up time. While older children might prove difficult to deal with, it is important for parents to keep their children well aware of time by showing them the clock and making sure that they understand the essence of time. Discuss school matters Having spent a long time at home, chances will be that children will have to psychologically struggle to catch up with the new academic year. Talking enthusiastically about school to build up excitement is important in terms of buoying the children’s confidence and expectations. Make them excited about what to expect, meeting their friends again and going to the next class. Some children find it difficult to leave their parents for a day after a long holiday and are therefore not huge fans of going to school. Talk to them about school in a positive light before they head back to school. Talk them through all of the fun things they will be doing over the year, and discuss the friendships they will build. It can all be overwhelming if children are not given the necessary support at home to complement what teachers are doing. Parents, therefore, must ensure that they support their children to re-adjust academically and not be left behind. Keeping them safe As they go back to school, safety precautions and measures against Covid-19 remain as important as ever, even as the numbers decline. Even in their schools, anything can happen considering that the virus is still around and keeps mutating. Teach them that wearing a mask, social distancing and handwashing are still very important lest they go back into lockdown and miss school again. Listen, counsel, reassure It is important for parents to encourage an open and honest conversation and listen to their children’s worries. Give them many hugs and let them know that you are there for them. If they struggle to talk, ask them to write down how they feel, or if they are younger, they can draw how they feel. Listen to them and counsel them where necessary and give them your reassurance. You never know how much they are going through. Make time to talk to them, it will be very helpful. Remember how demanding academic and social pressure can be even without adding in the additional stress of returning after a lockdown. Be careful not to belittle their concerns nor trivialise them. Visiting the school For some parents, the cab guy, school buses or the driver do all the dropping and picking. It is advisable that parents make time to visit their children’s schools and be able to talk to the teachers on the progress of their children in the new class. This builds confidence in them and assures them that you are there. Boost their confidence Before they head back to school, talk to them about the new class and remind them that this is the most important phase of their education. Help them overcome their anxiety and boost their confidence by telling them that joining a new class is a sign of progress. Calm their nerves, discuss how they are feeling about the new class, especially those joining candidate classes. Fun time With entertainment places reopening, and life slowly coming back to normal, creating some weekend fun activities will help the children relax and perform better in class as they overcome the pandemic depression.
